I bought a ticket for this not knowing anything about Adam Rehmeier’s work, although since then I have watched Dinner in American and Snack Shack. Both films are quite decent fun and capture a portrait of suburban America of decades past. Both also follow flawed yet relatable young protagonists going through the awkward trials and tribulations of simply being young. There is a very summer-y bright tone to his films that I enjoy and appreciate especially in the case of Snack Shack, although I don’t find I get more out of his movies besides the comedy itself especially when his stories end up taking a more serious and melodramatic turn. They hit a lot of the usual story beats and notes you would expect from a coming-of-age movie, but are not there to innovate or reinvent the wheel. They serve well as pastiches that a lot of young audiences today can attach their own emotions and experiences to.

This is relevant in the case of Carolina Caroline, which is Rehmeier’s foray outside of his usual comedy fare and more into sexy crime thriller territory. There are definitely a few laughs to be had here, but for the most part this plays it a lot more serious as it centers on the burgeoning Bonnie and Clyde-type romance between our two lead protagonists. Both of them are played by Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner who have a good thing going on in this – the chemistry between the pairing works decently well here, although I would have liked to have seen a hornier take from a much hornier director to really bring out the sexual chemistry that this so desperately needs. Who is the Brian de Palma of today?

It does start off well for the most part, but I find though that with this change in direction that is less humorous and more serious, the flaws become a lot more apparent once you no longer have the comedy to mask them. The story becomes quite predictable – they are successful at doing the robbery thing the first few times much like Bonnie and Clyde, but eventually through a combination of mistakes and bad luck they are exposed and now have to be out on the run. Of course, they make mistakes that are very avoidable. She does not bother to change her disguise once even when she sees herself on the news. I suppose there’s a possibility she could be pulling a Le Samouraï move – like it’s the honor of an assassin or a thief to wear the same clothing like that of a samurai – but I don’t think that is what is happening here and I’m sure I am already overthinking it just by bringing that up. She does finally change her appearance towards the end, but only after all the consequences of that mistake have already happened.

It’s certainly well-shot and made, and makes for decent entertainment, but isn’t going to give you more food for thought. It’s a decent enough update on the Bonnie and Clyde formula for the current generation, but also doesn’t exactly play well to Rehmeier’s strengths as a comedic director. It should make a big splash and feel like a bang, but the end result is tepid rather than exciting, sputtering towards the finish line.