"Cora Bora" works as an awkwardly funny, empathetic showcase for Megan Stalter

Cora Bora (2024)

Instantly likable protagonists can be boring, and the titular Cora certainly isn’t likable right away (or boring) in "Cora Bora." Having honed a particular persona that of a clueless sketch character who only operates in cringe-worthy behavior, comedian Megan Stalter leads this awkwardly funny indie character study with the admirable honesty of a true trainwreck. While the script can be hit-and-miss as a meandering road movie, director Hannah Pearl Utt and writer Rhianon Jones thrive most in showcasing Stalter’s strengths as a lively presence. 

Beyond being the “Hi, Gay” girl for a satirical Pride Month ad, Megan Stalter has proven to already be a steal-stealer in the TV series "Hacks" and in a few supporting film roles. Here, she plays Cora, a bisexual musician whose solo career—and life in general—is on the rocks. She used to live in Portland and be part of a band. Since then, she has moved to Los Angeles and is now in an “open relationship” with her girlfriend, Justine (Jojo T. Gibbs), who stayed in Portland for grad school. With delusions of a big-time “music career,” Cora takes gigs at near-empty dive bars and coffee shops to sing her original songs (“Dreams are stupid, and so are you for believing in them,” is the dreadful level of lyrical creativity). When she realizes Justine has met someone else (Ayden Mayeri), Cora decides to get on a plane, lugging around her broken guitar case, and surprise her supposedly current girlfriend for her graduation party. Yes, Cora really needs to get her shit together. 

Cora begins as an exasperating creation who shouldn’t feel like a real person. Many people she encounters even ask, “What is wrong with you?” Megan Stalter is more than game to make this deluded, overconfident character as coarse and unlikable as ever, but Cora is also masking a vulnerability. She may not exactly endear herself to the viewer (or to really anyone on screen) from scene one, but there is more to Cora than just a bull in a china shop. Read the full review at GuyAtTheMovies.com

Grade: B -

Brainstorm Media released "Cora Bora" (92 min.) in theaters on June 14, 2024 and on demand on July 12, 2024.