The Wasteland Reviewer

Clika (2026) Written Review

How far will you go to reach your dreams and support your family? Clika tells the story of a young Mexican American man who wants nothing more than anything to break through with his music. He makes a living picking peaches, but his mother is going to lose their family home for generations. The American Dream is not working out for this young man but joining his uncle drug running might be his only way out. Director and co-writer Michael Greene brings the story Chito to life on the big screen with the new music-infused drama, Clika.

How does Greene approach bringing Chito’s story to life? The film does not have strong filmmaking elements per se, but Greene is able to channel a specific vibe that feels right for this story. You can tell this film is not made with a large budget which gives it a more low-fi look to it. But the film is deeply connected to music, and the film has a look of a music video at times. Greene knows the vibes he wanted to channel and leans heavily into that in certain scenes. There is a sequence of the film set in a strip club, and you can feel the atmosphere (paired with plenty of shaking body parts). Chito and his pals create a music video at one point and that expression feels the most authentic to Greene’s vision. The strongest aspect of the film must be the music. The Mexican American music feels perfect for our protagonist, the setting, and the story that is being told. The tone of the film is not the most consistent as the film feels much more comfortable in a lighter atmosphere which makes the heavier moments feel awkward and not as impactful. 

Does Greene and company do a good job of telling the story of Chito? There are quite a few narrative threads that stretch across the movie. The core is Chito and the chase for his dream. The bulk of the story centers on Chito so that it gives plenty of space to explore this journey. Chito and other characters feel like they would not make sense. The illogical threads in the story that keep dragging it down result from bad character writing. The dialogue is quite blunt, leaving a lack of nuance in character dynamics and the thematic work of the film. There are moments where characters change their perspectives and attitudes on a dime when the script asks for it which shakes the over experience. The themes centered on dreams are relatable and decently effective even if the film wraps up a nice easy bow without muddying the water. Some of the elements of the film feel less interesting with them, unfortunately sucking up too much attention and runtime. There are some thrilling moments even if the conflicts are easily twisted and fixed. 

Does the cast bring much to the film? Admittedly, much of the cast feels uneven and awkward in their performances. Jay Dee, who portrays Chito, is quite uneven. There are moments that feel like Dee is completely checked out or not fully present. That is frustrating when there are a few moments that really need the right performance to accentuate them. Christian E. Gutierrez is rock solid as Chito’s uncle who makes for a good recurring presence in the film. A few of the supporting performances are a lot of fun including one of Chito’s friends who is the comic relief for the film. Most of the performances are a little stiff or awkward as you can tell most of the cast don’t have a lot of experience on screen. 

Is Clika a poignant little drama about chasing your dreams? The film certainly has its heart in the right place, but it is too flawed of a film to truly land how it wants. The clunky performances and uneven screenplays are at least overshadowed at times by the amount of personality and culture that Clika boasts. A solid story, some good themes, and impactful music are enough to give this one a chance.