A married couple, deep in the trenches of a midlife crisis, find their world thrown into hilarious turmoil when under-appreciated and stressed-out “supermom” suffers a post-traumatic breakdown, causing her to regress to her wild, college-age party-girl self. While she teams up with the neighbor’s 19-year-old daughter to paint the town red, her bewildered husband must navigate the chaos at home.
Genres: Comedy
Starring: Justina Machado, Will Sasso , Bobby Lee , Gregg Sulkin , and Michelle Randolph
Directed By: Mario Garcia
Produced By: Mario Garcia, Michael A. Alfieri , Doug Fox
Executive Produced By: Sterling Macer
ABOUT THE FILM
Hold on tight for a midlife rollercoaster like no other in “The Throwback.” Full of fun nostalgia and relevant references, “The Throwback” explores universal themes that will resonate with its intended audience in a hilarious way. “The Throwback” illuminates the poignant realization that while dreams may shift and paths may diverge, the essence of family and the power of love remain steadfast, guiding us through the complexities of growth, self-discovery, and the beautifully messy adventure called life. “The Throwback” boasts a talented, funny and diverse cast with loyal fans. The film is the directorial debut of writer and director, Mario Garcia.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
What began as a lighthearted comedic idea, centered around a husband yearning for the vibrant past with his wife, ultimately transformed into a profound journey of self-discovery for me. As “The Throwback” evolved through different drafts, the process gradually unearthed themes that resonated deeply within me, a middle-aged husband and father coping with a barrage of “what if’s.” This project became a canvas for exploring the disparity between the dreams we had in our youth and the reality of life as we grow into adulthood and parenthood. It feels like this is a universal theme with many people who live life wondering whether their current life path is all there is, and whether they are truly fulfilled. This project gave me the opportunity to discover my own answers and to recognize my own fulfillments that I may have previously overlooked.
THE CHARACTERS AND CAST
With the help of Casting Director Mia Cusumano (The Trial of the Chicago 7, She Said), we were fortunate to get a wonderful cast who brought life to our characters. For the lead character of Kate we needed to find someone who had the perfect blend of comedic timing and heartfelt drama. Kate is a strong character who is fiercely loyal to her family at the expense of her own hopes and dreams. Justina Machado brought a depth and relevance to that character beyond our expectations. The ability to transition from a 45-year- old mom to a 19-year-old party girl and make the audience take that sympathetic journey with her was quite the undertaking, but Justina delivered beautifully.
The character of Matt has hit a rut professionally and in his efforts to stay relevant in a job he doesn’t even want, he’s often overlooked his family. Will Sasso gave everything we needed to this part in a funny and heartwarming way. Will is known for his comedic work on shows like MadTV and movies like The Three Stooges, but we’re super proud of the range he showed in this role, making Matt a sympathetic figure struggling to find his way while coping with a wife who thinks she’s still in college and rethinking her life path.
Will and Justina’s chemistry was incredible and every married couple will be able to see themselves in these characters. Rounding out the cast is Charles, Matt’s best friend and co-worker, played by the hilarious Bobby Lee, who as the eternal bachelor reminds Matt that he’s hit a jackpot, “finding a younger woman….who happens to be his wife.” Gregg Sulkin plays Rick Steadman,
Matt’s younger office rival who Kate develops a crush on, and finally Michelle Randolph plays Shea, the 19-year-old neighbor’s daughter who becomes best friends with the “younger” Kate.
Additionally, the supporting cast delivers funny moments in their own unique ways, supporting the overall theme and adding much entertainment in the process.
THE SHOOT
The shoot took place in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida beginning on May 2, 2022 and wrapping on May 25, 2022. Despite being rainy season in Florida during this time, we consider it a great sign that we had no rain delays in the entire 20 days. Most of the actors had such great senses of humor that many time director Mario Garcia would not cut when the scene was over to let them improvise and create their own magic.
