This is what makes Mikey both a charismatic and agonizing character. ![]() But it happens that Mikey cannot help himself from making the worst possible choices at every turn, almost as if he is searching for something - happiness, or maybe stability - that he seemingly cannot find. It is clear that Mikey desires to do what is right, and that he does care about both of them. And yet, they also know that Mikey is not all bad - he is entertaining for the mishaps he gets himself into, and laughable for claiming that he can turn his life around and fly straight. In turn, Lexi and Lil know that they are making themselves vulnerable in letting Mikey back into their lives, because any number of things can go wrong with him being around. He has failed as a husband and as a porn star in L.A., and he does not know what to do they are the only two people who he can trust, even if they cannot trust him. But it doesn’t seem as if Mikey intends to deceive them - rather, he seeks them out as sources of comfort. He knows that, and he knows that Lexi and Lil are aware of this too. He proclaims that he will help with things around the house and pay rent when able, but Mikey is constitutionally incapable of following through on these promises. When he visits Lexi and Lil to ask for a place to stay, it is obvious neither of them want to see him. Mikey has almost no real regard for other people, and he does little that is worthy of respect, and yet, he remains a mostly endearing presence in his hometown. ![]() Mikey Saber (Simon Rex) with his mother-in-law, Lil (Brenda Deiss), and estranged wife, Lila (Bree Elrod), in Red Rocket. This, though, grows increasingly untenable as his ambitions run afoul of Lexi, Lil, and Leondria - who happens to be close with Mikey’s wife and mother-in-law - and his only option is to leave Texas City immediately with just 200 dollars in his pocket. ![]() and make her into a porn star, and to rejuvenate his career in the process, whereby he can return to his forte playing a supporting role to a female star. To make matters worse, Mikey gets the idea to take Strawberry to L.A. For a while Mikey is able to hide this new relationship from Lexi and Lil, but he soon begins to feel the pressure from both relationships as complications arise with him stashing away Leondria’s cut of the weed money. It isn’t long until they begin sleeping together. Day by day they chat at the shop as she lets him sell weed to the nearby construction workers. ![]() Over twice the 17-year-old’s age, Mikey is drawn to Strawberry and begins pursuing her immediately. Something new for Mikey is his friendship with Lonnie (Ethan Darnone), the next-door neighbor who idolizes Mikey and freely drives him around town.Īfter he has pulled in enough money for rent, Mikey takes Lexi and Lil to a doughnut shop where he meets Strawberry (Suzanna Son), the pretty girl working behind the counter. In time, Mikey and Lexi begin sleeping together again, and it seems he is falling into his old familiar patterns. With little success finding a job, Mikey returns to his old hustle selling weed for local dealer Leondria (Judy Hill). Cautious of Mikey’s ulterior motives, Lexi and Lil allow him to sleep on their couch, but they maintain their distance from him and demand that he pay rent. Returning to his hometown of Texas City, Mikey Saber (Simon Rex) begs his estranged wife, Lexi (Bree Elrod), and mother-in-law, Lil (Brenda Deiss), to take him in. In Sean Baker’s Red Rocket (2021), the weight of the world comes crashing down on a charismatic con man and destitute ex-L.A. Sean Baker’s latest film charts a destitute porn star’s attempts to turn his life around - by falling into all of his old habits
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