By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Boots Riley
Starring: Demi Moore | Eiza González | Keke Palmer | Naomi Ackie | Poppy Liu | Taylor Paige
Year: 2026
Running time: 105
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30827810/
Brett says: “I LOVE BOOSTERS, the latest from Boots Riley, brings many of the same stylings as his earlier film SORRY TO BOTHER YOU in that the audience is eased into what is clearly a satire in the first act with just the right hint of zany to make it stand out from others while at the same time keeping viewers intrigued by how long such antics are sustainable across a feature-length film. Like that previous film, however, the pondering about how the expository beats will sustain themselves falls by the wayside at the expense of tonal leaps that leave those introductory elements in the dust, at least in part. This is not to say that neither film is clumsy in that regard, as the ‘leveling up’ of the silliness presented is clearly a choice to escalate in that way. While it seems to point toward the absurdity of how far the real-world satirical targets in both films take things without properly or sufficiently being called on it by society, the result can be jarring and test audiences’ ability to follow the schtick to its conclusion.
“In I LOVE BOOSTERS, Riley seems to demand more of that understanding and leeway than SORRY TO BOTHER YOU. Sometimes, the film can be so angry in using those absurdist comic sensibilities that it encourages more raging against the machine than it does formal balance. To what degree audience members are willing to let go is proportional to the same degree of appreciation one is sure to find.
“The target here is the fashion industry, but more at large is capitalism itself that preys on its workers and its patrons (who are likely workers in some other capitalist venture). As referenced earlier, instead of going full-blown preachy with its tone, the message is embedded in how unhinged the comedic choices become.
“The talent is all there: from directing to acting to production design to cinematography. All formal elements are remarkable in their own ways. Perhaps among the most noteworthy are the achievements in costuming, makeup, and hair. The old adage of ‘know thy enemy’ is clearly a tenet in the film because the fashion on display is jaw-dropping to admire and look at, even though the film tears away at the extravagance of the industry as a whole. That said, it doesn’t seem like the film wants to abolish the industry, as even the workers in their uniforms in the film have a sense of fashion, so it’s more about equality of the industry and shares of the industry, not the industry itself.
“Despite some of the leaps that the film takes, there are more than enough zingers and scenarios that land right on target. Again, the outcome for each individual viewing the film is dependent on how off the rails one is willing to follow the runaway satire train.
“3 CATS OUT OF 5
“Recommended for fans of the director’s previous works
“Recommended for fans of innovative production design and costuming
“Recommended for fans of Keke Palmer (but who ISN’T?!)”
Peter says: “As IFFBoston draws to a close tonight, I wanted to circle back to the one that kicked things off. I look forward to this every year: a week-long festival of film premieres with filmmakers often in attendance for Q&As, and a sea of film nerds – my people – packed in to see them!
“Opening night featured the latest from musician-turned-filmmaker Boots Riley. His debut, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, was a bold swing that blended political satire with wacky, colorful comedy, and I LOVE BOOSTERS continues down that same path. It’s a radical film featuring an over-the-top, Looney Tunes sense of anarchy, a biting takedown of the fashion industry, and a dark satire on the state of American capitalism.
The film is stuffed with ideas; I got the sense that the director was completely untethered in his vision, for better and worse. I loved the DIY aesthetic, the fantasy sequences, and the sci-fi concepts. The costume and production design alone are detailed enough to merit a thesis paper. It’s refreshing to see him utilizing a larger budget to cast top-tier actors and bring his insane world to life.
“What works less effectively are the messy narrative and a certain brand of humor that seem hellbent on alienating the audience. The story starts simply enough: a group of ‘boosters’ who shoplift from luxury department stores to resell at a lower price (Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, and Taylour Paige) conspire to make a fashion maven (Demi Moore) pay for stealing their ideas.
“But since it’s Boots Riley, things don’t stay grounded. Soon, the boosters are pursued by ‘demonic loverboys,’ enmeshed in a conflict involving a bizarre portal device, and fighting to establish a union. While the creativity is wonderful, it’s hard to keep a grasp on where the film is going. The style eventually wears thin, and the intentional artificiality destroys the emotional stakes.
“Riley was there in person, taking eccentric photos in a giant hat and watching the film with us. On stage, his answers rambled in a similarly ‘unedited’ style. He spoke about his communist beliefs and ‘militarizing’ the workforce; while I’m in favor of unions, the loud cheers for potential violent uprisings felt a bit wild.
“Still, it was a fantastic way to open the festival! We even saw him ‘direct’ an elaborate ‘invisible head selfie’ with the audience. I missed seeing Keytar Bear or the Theremin guy open the show this year, but the crackling energy in the room was undeniable.
“2.5 out of 5 Cats 😺”
Eliza says: “I wasn’t sure what to expect from I LOVE BOOSTERS, as the title didn’t have a set meaning to me. Would it be about.. A person really passionate about vaccines? Car seat safety? After viewing, one thing is for sure. This film was a shot of dopamine. As my five year old likes to shout in the car.. ‘mom, turn on the rainbow boosters!!’ (In an effort to get me to speed up).. No doubt, this film definitely turned up the rainbow boosters (and then some).
“Keke Palmer stars as Corvette, a young woman obsessed with stealing and reselling designer clothes. In a unique study of fast fashion, this film dabbles in new ways in which consumers can feel their belongings becoming obsolete in real time..And the fear the rich feel around becoming obsolete. There is an irony in the ‘protagonist’s’ name being ‘Corvette’ and how she’s constantly surrounded by designer clothes, but cannot even afford food. She survives off candy. Corvette’s obsession with sour candy is also a nod to consumer addiction and dependency. And back to dopamine, sour candy is recommended for those with adhd to ‘boost’ their dopamine. So, once again with the chemical aspect coming to mind.
“Going as far as the antagonistic clothing designer deciding to change the colorway of each individual store..and each article of clothing in it (to match a store’s monthly chosen swatch).. It really makes the audience question our own preoccupation with how we clothe ourselves. Last month was green, this month is yellow. And customers must jump on the bandwagon, or else..Introducing a militant feel to something that is supposed to be ‘fun.’ The designer decides they’ll rob the consumers of color, and in doing so also render the garments obsolete after the month is over, because real fashion-forward people wouldn’t wear last season’s clothes..and now, not even last month’s. Making it even harder for the girls to boost. Exclusivity and scarcity shown in full force. Big feelings of ‘water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.’ Especially for the boosters otherwise living and squatting in poverty.
“The velvet gang, along with the help and introduction of a second ‘protagonist’ character, through a feat of engineering, find a way to change the world of fashion in a big way.
“The film touches on intellectual property, actual property, and who ‘owns’ or is at fault when the whole system is a ridiculous mess. I loved the use of quick cuts, claymation, and the small dioramas used in some of the scenes. This scaling down (in the dioramas) allowed for a sense of reality being distorted but still recognizable. It was truly a boisterous work, and a joy to watch.
“I give this film 4/5 cats.”
Michael says: “As we look back on the opening night of the Independent Film Festival Boston, I must admit, I LOVE BOOSTERS, by musician/filmmaker Boots Riley, is not the kind of film I would ordinarily seek out. In fact, I saw a preview of the film a couple of months ago at an AMC theatre, and thought, ugh, there’s one I can skip. Little did I know it would the opening night of the IFFBoston, so I said, what the heck, I’ll give it a try. Unfortunately, my instinct was correct, I LOVE BOOSTERS really isn’t a fit for me.
“That said, I appreciate Boots Riley as a filmmaker, his sensibilities, and for creating such a female forward film.. i was enjoying the all-in performances, and the crazed satire for the first third, or so, but things eventually went way off the rails in a way that some found fun, but I found pretty ludicrous. Plus there were tons of cameos of people I don’t know, and many inside jokes. I did enjoy Demi Moore’s villainous turn as the fashion maven who has it in for our “lovable” Boosters. And yes, Keke Palmer made a fun, energetic, sympathetic lead, and Naomi Ackie, unrecognizable as the best friend (and Chlotrudis nominee this year) in SORRY, BABY, did a good job to. In fact, as the memory of the “looney Tunes” element (spent on, Peter) fades from my memory, the film stepped up a half a cat in my rating. 2 1/2 cats”
Chris says: “Five minutes into director/writer/rapper Boots Riley’s long-awaited second feature, I thought, ‘This seems almost prosaic compared to the wackiness of its predecessor, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU.’ Then, a giant, rolling object rambunctiously followed the film’s protagonists down San Francisco Bay-area streets as if threatening to flatten them (or adhere them to its ever-growing circumference) and I don’t know why I ever considered such a notion.
“In Riley-world, ‘Boosters’ are predominantly young female shoplifters who make a living selling their bounty to customers for a fraction of its worth (the full title comes from one of Riley’s own songs.) Led by the gimlet-eyed Corvette (an always fabulous Keke Palmer) and the far more open (if susceptible) Sade (Naomi Ackie), they encounter a common antagonist, Christie Smith (Demi Moore, applying newfound comedic skills cultivated in THE SUBSTANCE), a prodigious fashion designer, kind of a cross between Anna Wintour and a more charismatic Elizabeth Holmes. Corvette, herself a budding designer, idolizes Smith until she learns the mogul has stolen some of her work. Along with fellow booster Mariah (Taylour Paige), Corvette and Sade procure jobs at a franchise of a chain of stores where Smith’s highly sought-after couture is sold in order to boost the merchandise for revenge.
“As I did at the start, you may be asking, ‘What’s so weird about that?’ Well, Riley, for whom Looney Tunes is a self-admitted influence not only coats everything in exuberantly candy-colored palettes. Check out the entire vibe of Grayson (a game Will Poulter), the exquisitely passive-aggressive store manager at boutique the Boosters infiltrate, or a pyramid-scheme cult led by the wacked out Dr. Jack (Don Cheadle), or Poppy Liu as a Chinese Booster whose favored way of lifting warps this all into a sci-fi film. I haven’t even mentioned SORRY TO BOTHER YOU star Lakeith Stanfield as a French-accented lothario with an outrageously sexual secret of his own.
“I adore Riley’s can-you-top-this, live-action cartoon approach while also acknowledging that it is both an acquired taste and a tad exhausting over time. Still, he does excel at holding one’s attention even if you’re flummoxed by what you’re seeing. As his political subtext becomes very much the text in the last act, it ends up profound and affecting rather than sanctimonious or preachy. The real conundrum of this silly, fervent work is that while some polish and restraint could make for more consistent, less divisive entertainment, something crucial would be lost. No one else is currently making movies remotely like this and that’s no small feat. 4 cats
“(Opens theatrically in Boston on May 22)”
Julie says: “Fun but silly. Loved the fashion and chemistry of the 3 then 4 muskateers being Covette (Keke Palmer), Sarde (Naomi Ackie (last year’s best supporting nominee in SORRY, BABY) Mariah (Taylour Paige) and the later fourth introduction of Poppy Liu the Chinese Booster(and in fact Poppy did have a different goal so not really ‘all for one and one for all’ in that their end goals were very different but their means to get there were the same and brought them together. The production design regarding Demi Moore’s office is insanely wonderful lending to a fun scene or two. Other feats of editing to create the sci-fi element were fantastic and fun. Demi Moore as Christine Smith was well played and believable. She was a riot. And of course the mesmerizing LaKeith Stanfield as the “mysterious sexual” man was a hoot. You have to just go with this one and have some fun. I do like Chris’s comment ‘As his political subtext becomes very much the text’, as yes the movie did have something to say, overall when putting it all together, even though I enjoyed it, I am giving it 3.25 cats.
“I haven’t seen SORRY TO BOTHER YOU to compare it to, but am intrigued to see it.
“I saw the Q & A and met Boots at the after party (he was extremely approachable and very nice) and I fully appreciate his creative genius. Additionally I checked out some music from his band The Coup and love it!”
Aaron says: “Coming into I LOVE BOOSTERS, I wasn’t familiar with Boots Riley. After this experience, it’s unlikely I’ll ever see SORRY TO BOTHER YOU. Aside from a few amusing gags and a likable zany energy, I thought BOOSTERS was a silly, overstuffed mess.
“I’ll write about the Q&A instead, which at least offered more consistent entertainment. Riley alternated between engaging, impassioned explanations of filmmaking technique and influences, and didactic, impassioned political speeches. I noted that Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson slipped out of the theater before the director took the stage.
“An easy highlight: prolific Q&A star and film student Shane (and Chlotrudis recruit target) asking Riley about his use of lenses. Notebook and pen in hand, Shane wrote everything down as Riley provided a lengthy, technical answer. The filmmaker even gave us a taste of his filmmaking chops, constructing a shot to die for with full audience participation.
“This was IFFB at its best. Even when I’m not on board with the movie, the discourse, enthusiasm, and love of learning and teaching are infectious.
“The film: 1.5 Cats
“The Q&A: 4 Cats”
Cassian says: “Keke Palmer plays Corvette, an aspiring fashion designer and member of the Velvet Gang, a group of boosters that steal high end fashion clothing and sell it to underserved communities at more affordable prices. Things take many absurd turns as they plan a heist against fashion mogul, Christia Smith (Demi Moore).
“This movie was a kaleidoscope of colors, music, politics and fashion. LaKeith Stanfield was so dreamy and hilarious. Mariah and Sade (Taylour Paige and Naomi Ackie) were absolutely fantastic. I was obsessed with Ackie after MICKEY 17 and I hope to see her in other films soon. Eiza González plays Violeta as this stoner genius that ties the whole movie together for me just when things are getting out of control. Everything about this movie was fresh, bold and hilarious. I LOVE BOOSTERS. 4/5 cats, I will be watching again in theaters next month.”