by Charles Kirkland, Jr.
Patricia Dombrowski (Danielle McDonald), aka Patti Cake$, aka Killa P is an aspiring rap artist despite the fact that she is a white, plus-sized girl from the streets of New Jersey.
Although she lives in near poverty with her alcoholic, semi-talented, singing mother, Barb (Bridget Everett) and her wheelchair-bound grandmother, Nana (Cathy Moriarty), Patti has vivid and lavish dreams of being the latest disciple of the Godfather of Rap, O-Z (Sahr Ngaujah).
In reality, though Patti has skills and a growing confidence as she destroys a whack MC in a parking lot rap battle at the behest of her friend and musical partner, Hareesh (Siddharth Dhananjay). Patti, Hareesh, Nana and another outcast who calls himself the Antichrist join together to make the group PBNJ, cut a record and book a launch party for their CD at a local strip bar called Cheeters.
Newcomer McDonald is refreshing and powerful as Patti and freshman director Geremy Jasper submits a foul-mouthed and furious but heartwarming and powerful story that is a humorous and distinctly female twist on 8 Mile with a dash of The Wizard of Oz (what’s the godfather’s name again?).
Grade: B+