Monday, September 6, 2021

Netflix: Review of AFTERLIFE OF THE PARTY: Almost an Angel

September 6, 2021



Cassie (Victoria Justice) was a vivacious young woman who worked as an events planner, She had always been the fashion plate, the life of every party she organized. On the day of her 25th birthday, she painted the town red with her friends, clubbing wildly and drinking a lot. When she came home very drunk, Cassie had a bad slip, fell and died. 

Her soul ended up in an in-between holding area between heaven and hell, Cassie was met by an angel guide named Val (Robyn Scott). Val told Cassie that she was there because she had unresolved conflicts.  Her final destination will depend on her ability to settle her issues with three people: her best friend Lisa (Midori Francis), her father Howie (Adam Garcia) and her estranged mother Sofia (Gloria Garcia).

Victoria Justice was being her energetic self, as we knew her since her breakthrough role Tori Vega in the TV series "Victorious" (2010-2013). Midori Francis was also known for being high-spirited from her more recent holiday series "Dash & Lily" (2020). The two hit if off very naturally as best friends, with animated rapport. It was surprising to see "Coyote Ugly" (2000) Adam Garcia in a father role.to a 25 year old. 

With the word "afterlife" right there in the title, it was no surprise that a main character will die. Despite the somber subject matter, the mood of the film was light and comic from the very start, with perky chatter between two best friends who were stark opposites. While Cassie was the loud extrovert who loved to party, Lisa was the shy introvert who worked as a research assistant for paleontology. Their close connection proved strong even after Cassie's death.

Once the story got going, it was easily clear how the whole film was going to end. However, contrived some plot points were developed and the middle section tended to lag, it was surprising that it was still able connect emotionally when it came to fixing relationships that did not end well when one of the parties passes on before any closure was achieved. This story did remind us that the life can be very unexpectedly short and we should cherish the people we love while we can. 7/10. 


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