Writer/director Amara Cash brings us Daddy Issues. The movie focuses on Maya (Madison Lawlor) a very talented 19 year old that dreams of going overseas to Florence and enroll in a Art School. Maya lives at home in Orange County with her negative mom (Kamala Jones) and her moms new husband. Her dad just left when she was young and she is a lesbian which doesn't seem to be going well with her family. Her mother continually puts her down making fun of everything including her sexual orientation, her artist skills and her unique look.
She becomes fixated with a girl on Instagram, a Los Angeles social media diva and fashion designer Jasmine (Montana Manning). Her glamorous life she portrays has Maya mesmerized by her! What Maya does not know through her cyberstalking is that Jasmine is being supported by a drug and sex addict who is her sugar daddy, Simon (Andrew Pifko). He pays Jasmine to for fill all types of sexual fantasies and pays her well.
Maya decides to head to La and search for her idol. She happens upon her in a club and they hit off well. Drinking and drugging and having a great time leads to them spending a sex fueled night together! Maya seems to be in love and thinks the same from Jasmine. But Jasmine loves her financial situation and does not want to give that up. Simon is a surgeon who is a junky and is seen numerous times injecting himself and really has issues. Jasmine's apartment is paid for by him and a generous allowance besides. She needs him because it has been a dry spell and she had not sold any of her designs for awhile.
So all she has to do is partake in his weird sexual fantasy's and she gets to live the life she portrays online. She explains to Maya that she is not going to give that up. So now poor Maya is trapped in a love triangle.
The world's collide when all paths are crossed and one thing is sure these 2 girls have Daddy Issues!
This is a really well made movie that is equal if not better than the big Hollywood movies of this genre. A well casted and really well written script (Amara Cash and Alex Bloom) makes this a real fun watch. The characters are so real you really fee for them and get to know them. The three leads Madison Lawlor, Montana Manning, Andrew Pifko real feed off each other and emotionally capture the demanding roles they act out. This could of been an exploitive goofy teen comedy but shows a true lifestyle accurately portrayed.
I don't think anyone else could of pulled this off so well as Amara Cash. Her direction was beautiful. Her Portrayal of Maya gave her so much life you fell in love with her and only wished her the best. The amount of disfunction and rejection Maya endures makes her a stronger person in the end. Madison Lawlor was amazing.
Montana Manning beauty and talent sparkled here. Not once did I dislike her character but really felt for her and felt sorrow. She seemed to really like Maya but think she may just like her spoiled life better! That lifestyle gives her no time to think and just party like a rock star with no ties or responsibilities!
One more kudo, the freaking nut Simon. Yeah he is a sick pup. But he has issues. He is lost from a past event and seems like he gets lost in the drugs and his sexcapades. But the actor portraying him is amazing. He is funny and nuts at the same time. Great job Andrew Pifko.
This is a feel good movie with a wonderful soundtrack and very bright and cheery look. Cinematography by Nico Aguilar was amazing.
