Mikey Saber is a washed-up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown, not that anyone really wants him back.
Simon Rex stars as Mickey Saber, an affable hustler who recently retired from numerous roles in pornographic movies. He returns to Texas City on the outskirts of Houston, trying to rebound from his flagging career back on the west coast. Showing up unannounced at his wife Lexi’s (Bree Elrod) home, Mickey finds himself scarcely welcome. Lexi’s mother Lil (Brenda Deiss) has no use for him either. Lexi and Lil press Mickey until he admits that he’s looking for somewhere to stay – just for a couple of days. Rightfully skeptical, they agree anyway. As the days turn into weeks, pressure mounts for Mickey to either move out or pony up some cash.
Gravitating toward familiar territory, Mickey reacquaints himself with local drug dealers Leondria (Judy Hill) and June (Brittany Rodriguez), where he finds a measure of success once again, as his easy charm helps him sell pot. Mickey blends in well on the edges of society, obviously a practiced hand in such contexts.
While strolling the neighborhood, Mickey chances upon Lonnie (Ethan Darbone) from next door. Mickey hasn’t seen Lonnie since he was just a kid. Now a twenty-something laid-back kind of guy, Lonnie is happy to chauffer Mickey around the city on various errands, often to facilitate drug sales.
One afternoon, while at a donut shop with Lexi and Lil, Mickey stumbles upon a cashier named Strawberry (Suzanna Son). Immediately smitten, he becomes obsessed with the high schooler, hardly bothering to mask the fact from his wife and mother-in-law seated at a table with him.
Later, he repeatedly contrives excuses to pop into the small store and trade witticisms with Strawberry, who turns out to be very good at keeping up with him. The friendship grows to the point where Strawberry lets Mickey sell pot to nearby refinery employees who come by stressed out from a long day, even though Leondria admonished otherwise.
Strawberry’s ambition, coupled with a strong desire to flee her dull circumstances, provide the perfect fit for Mickey’s incessant scheming. Once they become intimate, Mickey slowly sells Strawberry on the idea that she could be a porn star too.
An unexpected turn of events places Mickey and Lonnie in crisis mode when they leave the scene of a horrific freeway pileup. Not surprisingly, Mickey doesn’t let friendship get in the way of his own interest, and Lonnie finds himself all on his own.
For folks like Mickey, the only redemption in life seems to take the form of moving on to the next relatively unsullied opportunity. Mickey’s chronic rambling never allows him to stay anywhere long enough to put down permanent roots. In a way, the story ends not unlike the way it begins, with Mickey eager to traverse fresh ground.
Directed, edited, co-written, and co-produced by Sean Baker, “Red Rocket” represents a fine follow-up to the “The Florida Project,” which also took a hard look at life, infused with a welcome sense of humor. “Red Rocket” subtly lends Mickey’s infectious touch to urge the audience along for the ride – if somewhat reluctantly – as he searches for a follow-up act in whatever shady industry will pay his way.
In Theaters Friday, December 10th
