This movie broke my heart. Oh my goodness, I cried so much.
Sitting in Bars with Cake is the kind of movie that sneaks up on you and takes a totally unexpected turn. I started watching, because I was craving a lighthearted rom-com with a fun, quirky premise. With this movie, I was promised cake-baking, taking them to bars, meeting cute guys which pretty much sounded like a cute little story. At least, that's what I thought. But I was completely wrong. In fact, never have I been more wrong.
At its core, this movie talks about friendship, love, loss, and the unexpected ways life tests our strength while showcasing some really beautiful cakes. And you should know, this movie is based on a true story, at least some parts of it.
It started with best friends, Jane played by Yara Shahidi and Corinne played by Odessa A’zion, two young women living in Los Angeles, navigating their twenties. They both had ambitions and an unbreakable bond.
Jane is the shy, awkward one with an incredible talent for baking, she does not just bake, she creates, you know how an artist just follows his mind to paint a new canvas, that's exactly how Jane treats her pastries, while Corinne is the outgoing, life-of-the-party friend who convinces her that baking cakes and taking them to bars is the ultimate way to boost confidence and meet new people. The perfect duo right? What starts as a fun social experiment soon turns into something much deeper and painful as life throws them a curveball that neither of them could have seen coming.
First of all, let's talk about the chemistry between Yara and Odessa. Their friendship feels so raw and real that you start believing they must be best friends off-screen too. The way they play off each other, Corinne’s wild energy versus Jane’s quiet charm feels like the kind of friendship we all either have or wish we had. Their conversations are hilarious, even their fight sparks chemistry and their love for each other is completely indisputable.
But then, just when I was settling into the warmth of their dynamic, the plot twist crept in. It shifts from being about cake-fueled adventures to something much heavier, something that reminds you how fragile life is. And that’s when the tears start coming. Slowly at first, and then all at once, I was an emotional mess for real and even writing about it now still makes me emotional.
The emotional depth of this movie is heavy. At first, I was just there, innocently laughing at a chaotic bar scene where Jane is nervously handing out cake slices to strangers, and before I knew it, I started questioning why life is so unfair.
This movie doesn’t just tug at your heartstrings, it yanks them like an over-enthusiastic toddler playing with a toy they don’t fully understand. And don’t even get me started on the acting performances. Yara Shahidi delivers a stunningly vulnerable performance, it was epic and raw.
Now, let’s talk about the aesthetic. The cinematography is warm, soft, and inviting, much like the cakes Jane bakes throughout the film. The soundtrack is a perfect mix of upbeat tunes and heart-wrenching ballads that’ll have you Shazam-ing the songs. I know I did!
Is this movie perfect? Not entirely. At times, the transitions from comedy to tragic feels a little abrupt. But honestly, if not for this review I'm writing, I wouldn't have even tried to notice those little imperfect details because none of that really matters when a film makes you feel that much. When it leaves you sitting there, staring at the credits, wondering how you’re supposed to move on with your day or even life after what you just watched.
Sitting in Bars with Cake makes you value your friendship and relationships more. Because life and time truly are fleeting. This movie tells you about showing up for the people you love, even when life gets impossibly hard and dark. And it’s about cakes.
One advice? This movie is light and will make you laugh but then, don’t forget the tissues. Because you'll definitely need'em.
Overall, I'll give this movie a 7.5 out of 10.
All images are from IMBD.
Thank you for reading! :)
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