Sacramento

Michael Cera spotting. Who unsurprisingly, plays the classic Michael Cera character: sweet, fidgety, awkward, manchild, armed with a deceptive sense of humour. He's one half of this road trip, buddy-buddy flick. Michael number two, Angarano, is the smooth talking, too clever for his own good chum. Young adults with looming responsibilities on a journey to who knows where.

One is escaping, the other is returning, but neither is sure to or from what.

Angarano triple duties with writing and directing credits, is perfect as the affable but dangerous friend from the past. The one that existed as an awesome school foil, but seems oddly out of step in the adult world. Despite their history, the friendship is clumsy, as crucial time has passed. Events too.

Dealing with a pregnancy and a shaky job situation, Cera is in full nervous mother hen mode, but surprisingly agrees to a road adventure with his unscrupulous chum. It is a chance to sort. The duo provides great passive aggressive sparring and physical wrestling as only true friends can. And we have movie.

"Sacramento" turns out to be a classic talkie that explores emotional conflict and relationship struggles seldom tackled for generation Y. Feelings are hurt, lessons are learned, and there is a tidy ending. It comes with just enough funny tickles to bring it all home.

• hipCRANK.

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.

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!

What a nice little movie to watch on a rainy afternoon. Small cast that just nailed it. Very wholesome with lots of great laughs. The two male leads are great together. Michael Cera does an excellent job with his character but the other dude is the main attraction here. I believe he also wrote/directed this bad boy.

Kristen Stewart was really good as well, hitting all the right spots with the small amount of time she did have in the movie. A few years along the way as well, especially near the end. I highly recommend this to anyone that would like to watch a nice lighthearted comedy for the afternoon. Enjoy!

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.