Sacramento

In likeable buddy dramedy "Sacramento" troubled Michael Angarano (terrific) tricks estranged Los Angeles pal Michael Cera (who has issues of his own - including heavily pregnant wife Kristen Stewart) into a 380 mile road-trip to Sacramento (duh)... for reasons that become apparent downstream. Maya Erskine & AJ Mendez offer good support, and 8yrs after his writer / director debut ("Avenues") Angarano again writes & directs, doing well, especially with the screenplay (co-written with first-timer Christopher Nicholas Smith) that may have too many similarities to "Sideways" to be truly original, but is still enjoyable & engaging. A good movie - props to Angarano.

It took me a little while to get into the vibe of 'Sacramento' but once I did it became very enjoyable. It's a similar movie in a lot of ways to 'A Real Pain'. Every character looks like they are carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders, but trying their best to hide it.

The humour in the film is what takes some adjusting to. It is extremely dry. Once you adjust and start vibing with it though there are some very funny moments it has to be said.

Michael Cera was born to plays roles like this. I'm not even sure if he's acting half the time, or whether they just started filming him on break and worked it into the story. This one was a nice surprise. 7/10.

A very good buddy movie yet I understand the ratings/ mixed reviews it's a pretty good chill movie I'm glad I saw an 8:05 showing at stonecrest Charlotte. Micheal Cera and other great cast were pretty good even with tempers, focused on baby's and 2 buddies on a random road trip.

I enjoyed most of this probably not a theater type much and was gassy most of the time for some reason that was uncomfortable. I like the charming buddy style it's not much like others kinda sad mixed with great dialogue of banter that helped a lot and adult maturity that was nice. Been a long day overall great experience would definitely recommend regardless of anything!

Fondly remembered as Jack McFarland's son Elliott on "Will & Grace", Michael Angarano not only stars in this surprisingly adept 2025 road comedy, but he also directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Smith. It runs a fleet 84 minutes, but Angarano manages to fit in quite a packed story about two boyhood friends who had become estranged as they moved on different tracks into their thirties. Angarano plays extroverted Rickey, perennially unreliable to Michael Cera's emotionally uptight Glenn. Upon Rickey's incessant cajoling, they take a road trip from LA to Sacramento, while Glenn's practical-minded wife Rosie awaits the arrival of their first baby. The shenanigans are somewhat predictable with the reemergence of their alpha male energy resuscitating their former bond. While Rickey's true motivations for the trip eventually become clearer, Glenn deals with his increasing anxiety over pending fatherhood which leads to an unexpected seriocomic plot turn. Angarano and Cera are both dexterous in their roles, though Cera teeters on caricature based on his own nerdy screen persona. Maya Erskine brings an earthy appeal to Rickey's put-upon girlfriend Tallie, while Kristen Stewart makes the most of her limited screen time and steals the picture as Rosie.

Sacramento, directed by and starring Michael Angarano, is a road trip comedy that trades slapstick for something more grounded, introspective, and quietly affecting. The film follows two longtime friends, Rickey (Angarano) and Glenn (Michael Cera), as they embark on an impromptu journey from Los Angeles to California's capital. It's a story about navigating the messy anxieties of adulthood-parenthood, grief, and fading friendships-wrapped in a package that's equal parts humorous and heartfelt.

The film's strength lies in its cast. Angarano, pulling triple duty as writer, director, and lead, brings a restless, charismatic energy to Rickey, a man clinging to a free-spirited persona that's starting to fray at the edges. Cera, as Glenn, delivers a performance that feels like a natural evolution of his signature awkward charm, now layered with the weight of impending fatherhood and a need for control. Their chemistry is the film's heartbeat, capturing the push-and-pull of a friendship that's both deeply familiar and increasingly strained. Kristen Stewart, as Glenn's pregnant wife Rosie, and Maya Erskine, as a figure from Rickey's past, add emotional depth in supporting roles, though their limited screen time leaves you wanting more of their nuanced performances.

Angarano's direction keeps things moving at a brisk 84 minutes, with dialogue that's sharp and often bitingly funny, especially when the two leads bicker like an old married couple. The film's visual style is straightforward, leaning on California's sun-drenched highways and Sacramento's understated charm-think Old Town and the Tower Bridge-for atmosphere. While the pacing stumbles in the final act, rushing to tie up loose ends, it doesn't detract from the film's core: a thoughtful exploration of how men grapple with vulnerability and change.

Sacramento isn't breaking new ground in the buddy comedy genre, and it occasionally leans too heavily on familiar tropes. Comparisons to films like Sideways or last year's A Real Pain are inevitable, but it carves out its own space with a sincerity that feels earned. It's not a laugh-out-loud riot but a movie that elicits knowing smiles and the occasional lump in the throat. For anyone who's ever felt stuck between who they were and who they're supposed to become, it's a relatable ride.

Assessment: Sacramento is a charming, if slightly uneven, indie comedy that shines thanks to its strong performances and authentic take on friendship and growing up. It's a solid choice for fans of character-driven stories who don't mind a few narrative bumps along the road.

Rating: 7/10.