Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic
“Boogie” is a sometimes-fascinating film about the pull of culture and family on a teenager trying to figure out his complicated life.
Eddie Huang, the restaurateur who created the show “Fresh Off the Boat,” wrote and directed the movie, which features a promising debut performance from Taylor Takahashi in the title role. Taylour Paige, as Boogie’s girlfriend, is even better. She’s riveting as her character expresses both frustration and burgeoning confidence.
But there’s a shadow hanging over the film, which opens in theaters Friday. Pop Smoke, the rapper making his film debut as Boogie’s rival, was killed after filming completed. The tragedy doesn’t overtake his performance or the film, but knowledge of his death definitely colors it.