Emilia Perez

There was a small part of me that was hoping Emilia Perez would be a late entrant in my Top 10 of 2024. I was impressed by the energetic trailers, the interesting concept of a trans-cartel-musical, and the cast itself. 

And with those elements, a trailer can get away with calling something "Unlike anything you've ever seen before" because...well...technically by default that's true. 

Unfortunately for Emilia Perez, it set my expectations too high, which I quickly realized. With tempered expectations, I found enough to enjoy and it's a rather interesting film, but it's not impressive in the areas I thought it may be. 

The shining light of Emilia Perez, which is streaming now on Netflix, is the cast. Karla Sofia Gascon is captivating to watch and Selena Gomez is worth appreciating in a more mature role. Zoe Saldana is the standout - and arguably who the film centers around, despite the title (she's not Emilia) - and her work is impressive. 

The film's plot, which highlights a cartel leader who wants to transition to be a woman, and the consequences of doing so, is one that I found engaging, though at times felt afraid to create true conflict. There's been hubbub around its trans representation and display of Mexico, neither of which I'm informed enough to have an opinion on, but as I began to find the chess pieces lining up, I wondered how it would shake out. There is a finale, but ultimately while the journey keeps you interested, I can't say I left feeling strongly about the conclusion. Like many other elements, it's one that I praise overall but can't help but thinking back to the "unlike anything else you've ever seen before" and be underwhelmed. 

This same concept applies to the songs of this musical. Certain numbers stand out for their creativity and camera work (or Zoe Saldana's performances), but there's nothing that will get stuck in your head past a couple days. This is my biggest disappointment as it was the make-or-break element in my mind. An Emilia Perez where the songs were iconic would be a very exciting thing, but alas, the music we have suffices, but never wows as much as it wants to. It's certainly better than the horrid "musical" elements of a specific sequel from a couple months ago, but I can't help but point to this element as the one I wish would be the most improved from where its at currently. 

Emilia Perez, is a film I suggest managing your expectations with. The performances are the highlight, followed by an intriguing story that may feel to some like it's leaving rich drama on the table. The musical elements are fine - some are great - but "unlike anything you've ever seen" is a default claim rather than one that should excite. 

Rapid Rath's Review Score | 6.5/10