Carolina Caroline

One could also imagine a version of “Carolina Caroline” told as an “homage” to crime-spree movie tropes, with all the style and no substance. We’ve all seen that movie a hundred times. Rehmeier, though, cares about individuality, and he has a sense of humor. He doesn’t force chemistry, but he leaves lots of space for it.

Rehmeier has found a way to traverse different genres while maintaining an authentic, honest mix of comedy and drama. He’s unafraid to go for the big laugh, regardless of subject matter, yet knows when to hit the emotion hard.

At the end of the day, Rehmeier's take on an outlaw romance wrapped in a road movie is entirely too enjoyable to give too much hate to. From the country music needle drops to the oozing on-screen chemistry, anyone who loves a good crime movie that doesn't take itself too seriously will need to get their butts into the theater for this one.

Carolina Caroline is a story we’ve seen play out a million times. Pierrot Le Fou, Badlands, True Romance, and on and on. But there’s a down-to-earth quality here that eludes so many of these other iconic capers, and that’s what sweeps you up in the romance and ramshackle cons that propel the narrative.

What works about Carolina Caroline is how it looks and feels.

Carolina Caroline posits itself as more of a tragic love story than a traditional crime picture, and it’s Weaving’s affecting performance that finally keeps the film ahead of the heat.

It’s dogmatic to the point where any potential surprise is smothered out of it, starting with an opening scene narrative framing device that gives away who’s still on the lam after it all hits the fan.