This year has been a strong one for streaming movies on Prime Video. The platform has given audiences several big hits, such as Jake Gyllenhaal’s Road House remake and Anne Hathaway’s latest role in The Idea of You. These films have brought in large audiences and much attention.
However, one of Prime Video’s best romantic comedies of 2024, Música, quietly premiered back in March, and many fans of the rom-com genre may have missed it. Despite not being widely talked about, Música offers a refreshing and innovative take on finding harmony, both in life and love.
Its unique narrative, infused with music and self-discovery, makes it a must-watch for those who appreciate heartwarming and humorous films. Música is the brainchild of YouTube star Rudy Mancuso, who both wrote and directed the film.
It serves as his debut, and he brings a personal touch to the story by basing it loosely on his own life. The film follows Rudy, a college student living in Newark, New Jersey, who struggles to find his artistic purpose.
As he deals with complicated relationships during his final year of college, Rudy experiences synesthesia, a neurological condition that causes him to perceive everyday sounds as musical rhythms. This gives the film a unique angle, setting it apart from other romantic comedies of 2024.
The creative way in which Mancuso weaves his personal experience into the film allows Música to shine through its rhythmic storytelling. This use of music, combined with Mancuso’s on-screen chemistry with love interest Camila Mendes, earned Música strong reviews from audiences, proving that it is a film worth watching.
From the start, Música sets itself apart with its creative storytelling. The film opens by showing the struggles Rudy faces in his love life. After dating his girlfriend, Haley (played by Francesca Reale), for four years, their relationship falls apart in a memorable scene.
Still from the movie (Prime Video)
The breakup takes place in a diner, where Haley ends the relationship because Rudy is too distracted by his music. He composes songs in his head using the everyday sounds of the kitchen, which frustrates Haley. Despite the end of this relationship, Rudy’s story quickly shifts toward a new romantic adventure.
Rudy’s mother, played by his real-life mother Maria Mancuso, becomes involved in his love life after Haley leaves him. She tries to help him move on by setting him up on a date with a Brazilian girl named Luana, played by Camila Senna.
This maternal matchmaking leads to a hilariously awkward date, where Rudy makes it clear that he is not interested in romance. He tells his mother and Luana that he is focused on his artistic passion, which is creating a musical puppet show that he performs near the subway. However, his determination to avoid romance is soon challenged.
During a routine trip to the fish market, Rudy has an amusing encounter with a flying fish, which sets the stage for him to meet Isabella, played by Camila Mendes. The chemistry between Rudy and Isabella is instant, and their interactions form the emotional core of Música.
Isabella is drawn to Rudy’s unique musical perspective, and their budding romance adds depth and charm to the film. In one particularly touching scene, Rudy demonstrates his synesthesia to Isabella while they walk through a local park.
He conducts her gaze, showing her how he perceives the world through music. This moment allows the audience to see the world through Rudy’s eyes and adds a beautiful layer to their relationship.
Despite the strong connection between Rudy and Isabella, the film takes a humorous and chaotic turn when Rudy finds himself in a classic romantic triangle. Haley, Rudy’s ex-girlfriend, reappears in his life, wanting to get back together.
Rudy, who struggles with indecisiveness, ends up juggling both relationships instead of choosing between Isabella and Haley. His attempt to balance the two women leads to some of the film’s funniest and most relatable moments, as he tries to maintain his double life without either woman finding out.
However, Música does more than just entertain with a love triangle. The film also holds Rudy accountable for his actions, showing that growth and maturity come from facing the consequences of one’s choices. When Isabella and Haley unexpectedly meet at the same restaurant, Rudy’s deception is exposed in a spectacularly awkward scene.
Isabella and Haley are understandably upset, and Rudy is forced to confront the mess he has created. Música does not offer Rudy an easy way out. Instead, the film allows its lead character to learn from his mistakes in a way that feels authentic and relatable.
The moment when Rudy apologizes to Isabella is heartfelt, but the film makes it clear that apologies alone are not enough to fix the damage done. Isabella’s reaction to Rudy’s apology showcases her strength and self-respect, qualities that Mendes brings to the role with depth and grace.
This scene allows Isabella to stand out as a strong female character who refuses to accept less than she deserves. Her response adds an empowering twist to the film, as it subverts the typical romantic comedy formula where the female character easily forgives the male lead. Instead, Música emphasizes personal accountability and the importance of honesty in relationships.
While Música tackles serious themes of love and personal growth, it never loses its sense of humor. The film is filled with quirky, offbeat moments that keep the tone light and entertaining. J.B. Smoove shines as Anwar, a food truck owner with questionable morals, who brings plenty of laughs to the screen.
Still from the movie (Prime Video)
His interactions with Rudy are hilarious, and his character adds a unique flavor to the film’s comedic side. Another source of humor comes from Rudy’s conversations with his puppet. These moments of self-aware, irreverent humor are both entertaining and relatable, particularly when Rudy and his puppet struggle to express emotions through text messages. The combination of heartfelt moments and witty humor gives Música a unique charm that sets it apart from other romantic comedies.
Despite its relatively quiet release, Música stands out as one of Prime Video’s most innovative films of 2024. While the spotlight may have shifted to other films, such as the Netflix hit Anyone But You, which was released only a month later, Música deserves recognition for its creative premise and thoughtful execution. Mancuso’s debut film not only delivers plenty of laughs but also explores the complexities of love, art, and personal responsibility in a fresh and engaging way.
At its core, Música is a film about more than just romance. It is about finding harmony in life, both in relationships and within oneself. Rudy’s journey to artistic self-discovery is filled with challenges, missteps, and moments of growth.
His synesthesia gives the film a unique perspective, allowing viewers to see the world through his eyes and experience the rhythm of everyday life in a new way. This creative approach makes Música stand out as a film that not only entertains but also inspires viewers to reflect on their own relationships and the importance of honesty and self-awareness.
Música leaves its audience on a hopeful and inspiring note. Rudy’s journey is one of personal growth, and the film’s message about the power of love and accountability resonates long after the credits roll.
Mancuso’s debut proves that he is a filmmaker to watch, as he brings both humor and heart to the screen in a way that feels fresh and genuine. Música is more than just a romantic comedy; it is a story about finding harmony in life, love, and art, making it a film that is sure to leave a lasting impression on its viewers.
It has taken two full seasons, but The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has finally revealed who the Stranger is (Daniel Weyman). After he fights the Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds), the Stoors must leave their village in Rhûn. They move west with Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy (Megan Richards).
As they say goodbye, they call him “Grand-Elf,” which helps the Stranger realize, with Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear), that his true name is Gandalf. This secret was well-known, but people kept guessing until the end.
Gandalf Learning His Name Is Part of His Journey in ‘The Rings of Power’
Gandalf learning his name is an important part of his journey in The Rings of Power. Fans online argued that revealing the Stranger as Gandalf would be too obvious. However, the show did something similar in Season 1. Many people guessed that Halbrand was Sauron (Charlie Vickers).
What matters most is not how many viewers guessed it right, but the character’s journey before revealing his identity. There were many hints about the Stranger being Gandalf. The series encourages us to enjoy the story instead of trying to solve a mystery.
In Season 1, Gandalf’s story was about him finding himself and discovering his power. In Season 2, it focuses on understanding his role in Middle-earth. Learning his name is part of this process, as Tom Bombadil explains. Gandalf has a clear mission: to help defeat Sauron.
However, his character is more than just that. He is a unique wizard who knows his power and purpose, but he enjoys being in Middle-earth and values life.
He could only earn his name after understanding and being tested first. This is why Tom makes him choose between helping Nori and Poppy or searching for a staff among dead trees.
This story aligns well with who Gandalf is as one of the Istari. As the Grey Wizard, his job is to travel Middle-earth, meet people, and inspire them to resist darkness. He cannot understand this without being tested first, like he was by Tom.
Still from The Rings of Power (Credit: Prime Video)
He is the Gandalf we have always known, who believes small acts of kindness and love are what truly keep darkness away. This is why he chooses to help his friends over seeking more power, which serves him well in the end and earns him his name.
In the Books, Gandalf Arrives in Middle-earth Much Later
In the books, Gandalf comes to Middle-earth much later. One reason many thought the Stranger could not be Gandalf is that The Rings of Power is set in the Second Age. According to J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium, Gandalf only arrives in Middle-earth later in the Third Age.
He is one of the Maiar sent by the Valar to help the Free Peoples of Middle-earth in their struggle against Sauron, who is beginning to stir again after losing his body in the War of the Last Alliance. He arrives with Saruman and Radagast and is welcomed by Círdan the Shipwright (Ben Daniels).
Círdan gives Gandalf Narya, his Ring of Power, thinking it will help the wizard more than it helped him. By then, Gandalf is already the Grey Wizard. Radagast is the Brown Wizard, who protects nature from Sauron’s evil, and Saruman is the White Wizard, who leads the fight against the enemy.
The two Blue Wizards, Allatar and Palando, come to Middle-earth earlier. Their mission is to travel to the eastern lands of Rhûn to weaken Sauron’s power because those people once sided with Morgoth and now support Sauron.
As different as it is from the original Tolkien lore, the Stranger not being Gandalf could not work for a very simple reason: there have been too many hints about it. In Season 1, for example, he tells Nori to “always follow your nose.”
In Season 2, the Harfoots say he needs a “gand” to harness his power, the Stoors call him “Grand-Elf,” and Tom Bombadil tells him the line about “some who die deserve to live” and mentions serving the Secret Fire. If all this had been for nothing, it would simply have been bad writing.
Despite its many deviations from the original Tolkien writings, that’s something that the series isn’t known for, since, within its own context, The Rings of Power tells a very consistent story.
Gandalf’s Role in Future Seasons Could Break New Ground in the Lore
With Gandalf being in Middle-earth around a whole age before he is supposed to, according to the books, the big question for The Rings of Power Season 3 is: what will he do?
Having finally understood who he is and what his mission is, there is still a lot of growing for him to do. He is still much younger than when he appears in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, so will he get directly involved in the fight against Sauron in the Second Age?
As always, Tolkien’s writings may provide a hint. In the Third Age, Gandalf starts as the Grey Wizard, taking over the role of White Wizard in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers after Saruman’s (Christopher Lee) fall.
Still from The Rings of Power (Credit: Prime Video)
In Unfinished Tales, though, Tolkien tells that when the Valar send the Istari to Middle-earth, they offer him the role of White Wizard, but he refuses, feeling he is not strong enough for the task and doesn’t desire power or authority. Saruman then jumps at the opportunity.
It could be that Gandalf’s arc in Season 3 is about him refusing this position entirely, tricked by the Dark Wizard, or about his growing into his role and becoming more experienced as the Grey One straight away. Whatever it is, we can’t wait to see our beloved wizard again.
Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is available to stream on Prime Video.
