Amanda Crouse
A&E Editor
From the mind that birthed “103 Fever” and “Stand-up Solutions” comes a new feature film whose artistry lies not only in its full-bodied comedic delivery, but also in its commitment to invoking a distinct mood –– that mood being early 2000s midwestern tomfoolery.
Conner O’Malley and Danny Scharar’s “Rap World” is a mockumentary that follows Matt, Jason, Serj and Casey, four young-ish adults in 2009 who are filming their attempt to compose, write and record a rap album all in one night. Set in the sleepy fluorescent-lit parking lots and beige-carpeted homes of Pennsylvanian suburbia and recorded on an aptly low-resolution video camera, “Rap World” reads like a genuine relic of the time it strives to imitate.
The film was shot over the course of three years with a microscopic cast, crew and budget. It is –– more than a mere passion project –– an artistic expression of friendship and youthful nostalgia. For the first half of the film, O’Malley and his motley crew of twenty-something townies cruise around their hometown like kings. They stop at the McDonald’s drive-thru, pick up Matt’s sister from her shift at Walgreens and film themselves fooling around at Matt and Casey’s movie theater job. Later, Jason grapples with his feelings for the alluring Kiera, and Matt is confronted at a party about his inability to support his young son. In short, very little time is spent actually working on the much-anticipated rap album for which the movie is named.
In an interview with Screen Slate, O’Malley said of the four leads, “these characters are just guys who need an excuse to hang out. They’re not actually rappers and they’re not actually making a movie.” Truly, the video camera is just a vehicle for the strengthening of the group’s bond –– for Jason’s theatrical pranks, Serj’s experimental shot compositions, Matt’s fatherly expertise and Casey’s lyrical prowess to synthesize into one cohesive, tangible product of a time-tested friendship.
This might be misread as a sarcastic or insincere review, but don’t get it twisted: I am serious when I say that “Rap World” is one of my favorite movies of 2024. It’s funny as all get-out and littered with silly ad-libbery, but the narrative of lifelong friendship at its heart is what propels the film beyond the likes of so many other emotionally reserved comedies from the past year.
Hustlers must watch this 55-minute ode to the aughts.
