The cast of Queen Of Knives is better than the romance, drama, and comedy combined. Everyone in the cast, no matter how big or small their part, is phenomenal. Roxi Pope conveys how life can be heavy but good at the same time. LoBue is charming and fun. Bennett is hilarious, while Harris is mostly effective at being in love and stuck in the past at the same time. Renzo radiates positivity.
However, some issues do exist. This is where that 2% sequel-ness comes into play. The most minor of these involves a character named Sebastian. At the art exhibit, Frank recognizes Sebastian (Justin Sams)… and that’s all there is to that. Who this person is and how Frank knows him remains unclear even when the movie’s over. Presumably, he’s in the first film. It’s odd, but it’s just a momentary diversion that affects little.
“…a lovely little romance-drama-comedy…”
The bigger flaw, the thing that keeps Queen Of Knives from being a masterpiece, is Kathy. For all the grief given to Frank’s past foibles, he is a well-meaning person trying to change for the better. Kathy, on the other hand, is a narcissistic bitch who is so toxic it’s astounding that her family still talks to her. See, she doesn’t inform Frank that her new significant other is Joanne, a person with whom he has a personal relationship (his accountant). If it were just some stranger, so be it; none of his business. But to hear this news through the grapevine highlights a selfishness Frank does not possess here. Given the title of the first film is King Of Knives, it seems a safe bet he’s more of a jerk there. But in this story, he’s well-meaning, non-judgemental, and sincere, if a little confused and frustrated at times. Kathy is only in it for herself at all times.
But alas, this is not Kathy’s only sin, and the other is a doozy of monumental proportions. THE REST OF THIS PARAGRAPH CONTAINS MASSIVE SPOILERS, SO CONTINUE READING AT YOUR OWN RISK. OTHERWISE, SKIP TO THE NEXT PARAGRAPH. Frank and Kathy had a son who was a victim of suicide. Part of the degradation of their marriage is how Kathy turned his room into a shrine, not letting anyone touch a thing there, unable to move on. Now, Kathy’s letting Joanne turn it into her home office. She does not discuss this move with her daughters or Frank. This is confusing because, as written in this story, Frank is sweet and is trying to do what’s right for his grown children, even if it is a little too late. Perhaps if there were more of Kathy and Joanne, this move would work better. However, their plot definitely gets the short shrift, as it is mostly just them saying “I love you” in various ways.
Queen Of Knives is a lovely little romance-drama-comedy with solid characterizations and a relatable story. Delgado maintains the tone throughout, and the entire cast is remarkable. But, the writing for one particular character, matriarch Kathy, does not work because the people around her oddly don’t react to her selfish decisions appropriately or realistically. This is a crying shame, as everything else about the film works on every level. This is a solid film that is just a shade away from greatness.
"…the cast of Queen Of Knives is better than the romance, drama, and comedy combined."
