[SXSW 2024] DANDELION -- KiKi Layne Wows in Bland Music Drama

Review by Sean Boelman

Kiki Layne in IFC Films' DANDELION | Credit: IFC Films.

Nicole Riegel’s feature debut, Holler, was an intriguing drama with a star-making turn for its lead, Jessica Barden. Although If Beale Street Could Talk star KiKi Layne gets a similarly auspicious vehicle in Riegel’s sophomore outing Dandelion, the musical drama is too generic to work on any level beyond Layne’s performance.

Dandelion follows a singer-songwriter who takes a last-ditch gig at a motorcycle rally, where she meets a charismatic guitarist who gives her a new perspective on her dreams. As you’d expect, this kicks off a romance full of tropes. It’s a bit too comfortable with convention to be particularly moving.

One of the most frustrating things about Dandelion is how it introduces conflict, only to abandon it for most (if not all) of the rest of the film. Because of this, the movie feels aimless. The characters aren’t compelling beyond the protagonist’s basic underdog arc, and the romance is neither likable nor nuanced enough to be challenging.

KiKi Layne’s performance is very strong from both a dramatic and a musical standpoint. Layne is able to infuse the character with a level of authenticity and passion despite the generic backstory. Her co-star Thomas Doherty is less effective in his role, giving a performance that lacks the charm and nuance necessary to pull off the complexity of the role.

KiKi Layne in Nicole Riegel's DANDELION. Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.

Unfortunately, Dandelion falls victim to so many cliches that its story is dull. And with a runtime of almost two hours, it fails to justify its existence. More often than not, Dandelion’s story merely feels like an excuse to bridge the gap between musical performances. It’s melodramatic and contrived in a way that’s never entertaining.

Worse yet, for a film with musicians as its main characters, Dandelion’s soundtrack is pretty underwhelming. In the movie's world, the protagonist is supposed to be a budding starlet. Her songs are only mildly catchy and mostly forgettable despite Layne’s strong singing voice. It’s the type of music you’d expect to hear in the background of a restaurant, not the kind you’d expect to get noticed and lead to a big break, which creates a disconnect between the audience and the story.

Apart from the soundtrack, the technical aspects of the film are fine. The cinematography is very intimate, with many close-ups — especially during the musical performances. Riegel rightly emphasizes the actors, the strongest aspect of her movie, creating the only legitimate source of emotion.

Although it features a solid performance from actress KiKi Layne, Dandelion shares too much in common with other films in the music drama genre to be particularly interesting. Almost all the ingredients are there for this to be a likable music romance, but the one thing missing is a unique flavor.

Dandelion screened at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, which ran March 8-16 in Austin, TX.

Rating: 2.5/5