Anora review (2024)

Anora brings a bunch of genres together to make for a very fun and entertaining film.

The comedic elements provided some of the best cinematic laughs in 2024. A whirlwind romance feels like it’s defying the odds and fairy tale enough to be  hopeful for a ‘happily ever after.’ An extended slow pursuit with an assortment of quirky characters has that same Little Miss Sunshine vibe. And the heartache is stinging enough to channel some of the most memorable romance films.

By the end, Anora emerges as one of 2024’s best films that should connect with general audiences as well as the critic groups that are showering it with praise and awards.

Ani (Mikey Madison, Scream) is making her way just fine as a stripper. She’s good at the gig quickly disarming clients and getting them to the higher priced champagne rooms where she can get bigger tips. Ani gets along well with her co-workers with the exception of one who’s clearly just a hater. She doesn’t mention any loftier goals or plans for her life. She’s only 23. There’s a whole life to be lived later.

One day, the club manager asks her to show a client with money to burn a good time since she can speak Russian. The client, Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), is young and completely carefree with no apparent cap to his cash flow. Ivan is immediately smitten with Ani and it seems as if there’s some mutual interest. Ani starts making house calls to Ivan’s gaudily lavish home, a huge departure from the small home she shares with her sister.

For the initial 35 minutes of Anora, director/writer/editor Sean Baker (The Florida Project) devotes too much time to young lust. So much of the opening act is showing Ani living the good life with Ivan throwing lavish parties and their rabbit-like sex life. It gets a little tedious watching a carefree dude blowing his parents’ money without having to work a moment to earn it.

After that long setup, Baker gets into the meat of Anora. Ivan is going to have to return to Russia and work within the family business. But if were married, he’d have to stay in America with his new bride.

In fairness to Ivan, this isn’t some duplicitous suggestion — more of a rash, impractical thought from a 21-year-old who’s never needed to be responsible a day in his life. It helps that Eydelshteyn makes Ivan a fun-loving guy who’s not particularly rude to his housecleaners or Vegas concierge.

Swept away by the notion of this endless party not ending at midnight, Ami is fully on board even if there’s obvious signs Ivan probably isn’t really ready for marriage.

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One of those being Ivan hasn’t been keeping his parents in the loop with his actions. Not so shockingly, they aren’t thrilled with the news that their son has married a stripper. And they send their emissary, Toros (Karren Karagulian) and his burly brother, Garnik (Vache Tovmasyan) and Igor (Yura Borisov), to convince the newlyweds to get their marriage annulled.

At this point, Baker shifts the tone of Anora from this unlikely romance drama to an outright comedy. Ivan quickly runs off leaving Ani to deal with Torros, Garnik and Igor. And she is not happy. Toros prefers to call Ani by her full name of Anora, which also does not sit well with her as she won’t calm down in her efforts to escape their non-threatening clutches. The imagery of the hulking Garnik and the intimidating Igor frantically trying to stop Ani on her rampage is hilarious. It’s a tremendous showcase scene for Madison as she displays Anora is a full-on firecracker.

Baker’s dialogue through this act is incredible and the laughs come at a rapid-fire rate. Madison, Karagulian, Tovmasyan and Borisov are like a jazz band riffing off each other to make all of their scenes together shine. The search takes them through various locations giving cinematographer Drew Daniels (Swarm) several opportunities to stage some beautiful shots.

This block is the highlight of Anora to the point when they actually find Ivan it’s almost a letdown. Specifically, as Igor seems to have a greater appreciation for Ani than Ivan ever did.

The final act is essentially 12:15 a.m. for Ani’s fairytale when Ivan’s parents (Darya Ekamasova and Aleksey Serebryakov) arrive and treat her horribly. Due to their unintended lengthy bonding session, Toros, Garnik and Igor clearly feel bad for the family disregarding her so easily. If Anora were a true fairy tale there would be some form of comeuppance for the nasty family. And they really do deserve it in lieu of the more realistic payoff that’s provided.

Baker does give Ani some small measure of a win later on before a conclusion that felt very well-earned.

Anora could turn off some viewers with its opening act, but they’re missing a truly heartfelt and funny film that’s one of the films that’s worth adding to your must-see list for 2024.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Photo Credit: Neon

Check out another of Baker’s previous efforts, Tangerine, on Amazon.

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