It appears like the Coastal Grandmother movement is heading to a television screen near you, so grab a bottle of your favourite chardonnay and a plate of assorted cheeses. And just in time for the long Labor Day weekend, Mack & Rita, a coming-of-age romantic comedy with a twist, will be available on Premium Video on Demand. Elizabeth Lail will portray Mack Martin, a 30-year-old homebody who, for the sake of her closest friend Carla (played by Taylour Paige), is coerced into attending Carla’s bachelorette party in Palm Springs. Mack tries to have a spiritual awakening, but things go awry when she ends up as her sassy older self, played by Diane Keaton.
Rita, liberated from her earlier self’s pressure to fit in, embraces her uniqueness and becomes an overnight star on social media. When she begins a romantic relationship with Jack, her dog sitter (played by Schitt’s Creek’s Dustin Mulligan), things become even more difficult. You’ll find your inner granny in this new comedy with a Freaky Friday vibe.
Coincidentally, the release of the new film coincides with a rise in popularity of the “Coastal Grandmother” style, as defined by the app TikTok. These young people desire nothing more than to channel their inner Nancy Meyers. Casting Diane Keaton, arguably the most iconic Coastal Grandmother, makes perfect sense. Perhaps the pinnacle of Coastal Grandmother movies is 2003’s Something’s Gotta Give, co-written by Diane Keaton and Nancy Meyers; Mack & Rita appears to maintain Keaton’s penchant for white linens and even whiter wines.
Katie Aselton was in charge of the filming of Mack & Rita. Paul Welsh and Madeline Walter wrote the script for the picture. The movie was released in theatres on August 12 and is distributed by Gravitas Premiere. On the other hand, the forthcoming Premium Video on Demand could fit the film’s homey mood better. On September 1, Mack & Rita will debut on Premium Video on Demand at a suggested retail price of $19.99. There is some mild language and some mild violence in Mack & Rita, hence it has a PG-13 rating.