Friendship films are a dime a dozen but there’s a certain appeal to this one as it’s loosely based on a true story. Corinne and Jane have been friends since they were kids though they couldn’t be more different from each other. Corinne is a gregarious extrovert while Jane is quiet and shy. Corinne is climbing up the ladder as a music agent in a top agency in LA, while Jane works in the mailroom while applying to law school.

I never knew that cake-barring was even a thing until I saw this movie, that is, baking cakes and bringing them to bars in order to entice guys. Corinne (Odessa A’zion) conceives the idea to boost her super shy bestie and roomie Jane’s (Yara Shahidi) confidence. The cake-barring soon became a hit and they set out a plan to bake 50 cakes over the next year, with Jane baking a different cake every time. As they say, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach as the cake-barring scheme becomes a huge hit.

Unfortunately, life has a way of throwing a wrench into our plans… when admitted to a hospital after having a seizure, Corinne receives a life-altering diagnosis. Director Trish Sie keeps the tone mostly light, using humor to deal with some heart-wrenching moments. Martha Kelly and Ron Livingston are pretty funny as Corinne’s parents Ruth & Fred, with Fred resorting to fixing everything he gets his hands on as his way to coping with his daughter’s devastating prognosis. Life becomes a bit trickier for the two roommates as Corinne’s parents insist on moving in with them to care for her.

One thing that’s apparent from the start is the bond between the two lifelong friends, Shahidi and A’zion exude such warmth and palpable affection towards each other that makes me miss my best friends growing up. It’s truly a privilege to find that friend who’ll be with you through thick and thin. It reminds me of the song Count On Me from one of my favorite female friendship movies Waiting To Exhale: When you are weak I will be strong, Helping you to carry on…

Corinne and Jane truly exemplify what it means to be a friend and take care of each other. While it seems that Jane is the one always caring for her sick friend, the film also shows it’s not a one-sided relationship. The scene at the restaurant involving Jane’s reluctance to go to law school shows how Corinne knows Jane inside and out, and she only wants the best for her bestie.

The premise is loosely based on Audrey Shulman’s blog + book of the same name, and she also wrote the screenplay. I haven’t read the book but what strikes me is the similarities to Bette Midler’s classic friendship movie Beaches, so it’s fitting that she has a small role as Corinne’s tough boss. In the book, both friends are Caucasians, but in the movie, they made Jane’s ethnicity half Iranian and African-American, just like Shahidi herself. I think that adds a level of interest to the story though I wish they went deeper into the main characters, as I wasn’t sure how they became such good friends and why Jane loves baking so much given both her parents are top attorneys.

As for the performances, I was most impressed with A’zion who’s such a natural in the role. There’s such a spunk and realness that draws me in instantly. While the emotional beats don’t always land and some of the dialog feels a bit clunky, such as their big fight on the street, the two young leads are somehow able to rise above them thanks to their genuine chemistry.

The movie works best when the focus is on the two of them, as the romantic endeavors aren’t fully fleshed out. I do appreciate that Shulman’s script and Sie’s direction avoid the saccharine pitfalls despite dealing with a tear-jerker theme. The story is heart-rending and sweet without being nauseatingly syrupy. It would likely make you hungry for cake, however. The various flavors of cakes themselves are practically a character in the movie, showcased creatively throughout that makes your mouth water. The power of true friendship certainly left me with a delightful aftertaste.

» Sitting in Bars with Cake is streaming on Amazon Prime

Have you seen Sitting in Bars with Cake? I’d love to hear what you think!

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