People
“Sitting in Bars with Cake,” starring Yara Shahidi, Odessa A’zion, and Bette Midler, premieres Sept. 8 on Prime Video
By Jen Juneau
August 8, 2023
PEOPLE has The Official Trailer For ‘Sitting In Bars With Cake for the film from director Trish Sie (Step Up: All In, Pitch Perfect 3), written by Audrey Shulman and based on her 2015 book of the same name.
Sitting in Bars with Cake, inspired by true events, follows lifelong pals Jane (Yara Shahidi) and Corinne (Odessa A’zion) navigating their 20s in Los Angeles until a medical diagnosis changes things forever.
“Corinne, the ultimate extrovert, convinces her shy but extremely talented home-baker best friend Jane to commit to a year of baking cakes and bringing them to bars, with the goal of meeting people and developing confidence,” a synopsis reads.
“During their year of ‘cakebarring,’ Corinne receives a life-altering diagnosis, and the pair face a challenge unlike anything they’ve experienced before.”
Sie spoke with PEOPLE about what inspired the film, and working with Shulman, “the protagonist in real life” who lived a story similar to Jane’s.
“[Audrey’s] best friend through this whole thing — who kind of masterminded and believed in this whole project — also had this incredible diagnosis in the middle,” says the director, 51. “She insisted that they keep going, and Audrey herself had to step up and really become a whole different version of herself essentially.”
13 Movies About Friendship to Watch with Your Pals on Galentine’s Day
Sie says the real-life close friendship between Shahidi, 23, and A’zion, 23, was “a wonderful bonus” when casting, in that “they already had this kind of shorthand and easy affection for each other and trust of each other.”
“Yara was my dream Jane from the beginning because I’ve known her since she was quite young,” she says, noting Shahidi’s “thoughtful, profound” nature that she has had since childhood. “Then we had to set about finding the right Corinne to match her.”
In A’zion, Sie found something “that was just so specifically spirited and so effervescent and kind of unpredictable, but in this really exhilarating way.”
Bette Midler also appears in Sitting in Bars with Cake as Corinne’s boss. As a big fan of Midler’s, Sie admits she “was shaking in my boots because I love her so much and I was so excited and nervous and scared” to meet her.
But she had nothing to fear, as she says Midler, 77, “is actually so incredibly lovely,” and just “as funny and edgy and creative as you would say she is.”
Midler also had no desire to play out any kind of “boss lady” stereotypes and instead took the depth and “mothering instinct” of her role to heart.
“I love that she brought this sort of warmth and dimension to a character that could have been a little bit of a cardboard cutout. That’s just not how she does things,” Sie says.
The 22 Greatest On-Screen Female Friendships of All Time
The cookbook that Sitting in Bars with Cake is based off on, Sie says, includes “sweet, happy” stories of people from all walks of life. The film adds something in the form of “a message about not just surviving through a tough time, but thriving through really challenging times in our lives.”
While young-adult women are the “obvious” target audience, she also thinks men, older people and many more “will love it” for its universal themes and “fabulous performances.”
“It’s a story of what happens when the map that you think you’re following in life kind of goes offline and you have to figure things out without anything to guide you besides your own internal compass,” Sie says.
She adds, “It’s about figuring out life when it throws you a pretty wicked curveball, because that is one thing that we all have in common.”
Sitting in Bars with Cake is streaming on Sept. 8 on Prime Video.
It actually seems cute. It’s simply impossible for people like us (LOL) to not be reminded of Beaches and Bette in it feels like a cute reference, you know what I mean? I hope Prime video will make it available for people from Latin America to stream it, bc even though we pay for the dam subscription, there’s the whole area availability shit…which drives me mad…why can’t I have access to what you have in USA if I pay for the damm service …I’m not even coping anything or using some sort of device that breaches any signals…oh well…one cab hope. LOL
There’s an article in Glamour Magazine where they talk about the similarities of Beaches and were hoping this would be a new generation kind of Beaches
Btw, on a girlish superficial note (hahaha): how cool is Bette’s hair in this?
And I loved her little eccentric clothes
As an Amazon Prime member, I received an interesting email today that I thought I would share with you. Starting in September with what appears to be their first movie “Sitting in Bars with Cake”, they [Amazon] are launching a “Prime Premiere Coming Soon” platform, which allows Amazon Prime members to see their movies early, and for free (If Amazon Prime members) in select cities throughout the country in a movie theater venue. They haven’t posted yet all the cities or the movies or the theaters but are clearly indicating that “Sitting in Bars with Cake” will kick off the platform and have what appears to be a one-day national (free) theatrical release date of September 6, 2023. Think of it as a free advance screening throughout the country. These will be bookings that can be secured through Amazon Prime (for Amazon Prime members only) up to one week before the streaming release date. I believe ‘Sitting in Bars with Cake’ will be their debut motion picture to launch the service/platform. I’m not sure yet if this may help Amazon qualify for Oscar consideration for their streaming platform movies, as many of us (especially me) seem confused as to what qualifies for television vs. motion picture award consideration for movies that have appeared on a streaming platform post-Covid. I might be reading too much into this, but their willingness to start their new service in a theatrical venue with “Sitting in Bars with Cake” is an early sign that the movie may attract positive buzz or critical attention in an award-worthy arena. Based on the pre-release press snippets, it is already receiving a fair amount of media discussion and seems to qualify for the Academy’s “new rules for Oscar consideration” in a few ways. Fingers crossed. Yes, I’m also digging Bette’s fashion and hair vibe on this one!
Also, Amazon’s website lists the streaming release date of September 7 for “Sitting in Bars with Cake” while officially the release date is shown as September 8. Some theaters in the country will now be showing it on September 6, according to Amazon’s new service for those who wish to see the movie on a larger screen for initial view.
I am on the Amazon Movie Review Board but haven’t been asked to see this movie in advance. Lately, I have been asked to review or comment on movies immediately after platform release such as their most recent “Red, White, and Royal Blue” which entails the interesting story of a Royal Brit (male) and U.S. President’s son (also male) who fall in love with each other after a rom-com style family wedding ceremony where they display their initial dislike for each other. With the two leads looking like a young Prince William and young Justin Trudeau, it certainly has enough going for it to hold your attention (smiling emoji). But, I digress.
That’s it! Just though I’d share—xoxo
Can I post what you just wrote? I want a special newsletter, too, dammit!
Of course, Mister D! I’ll forward the Amazon email to you, as well.
Let me modify my response about forwarding the email. I’m a bit confused, as it appears to have been sent out to all Amazon Prime members, however the email is coded with a reference number and my email address directly embedded into the notice. I want to make sure I’m not violating any terms of service with Amazon before distribution. I will check into this and get back with you ASAP.
The email lists the theatrical (Prime member) release date for all (i.e., the next three) of their upcoming movies, starting with “Sitting in Bars with Cake”. After that, is “A Million Miles Away” (September 13), Gen V (September 27), and the Burial (October 11). The new platform is called Prime Premier.
At this time, this is the only public release link I’ve been able to find:
https://www.primepremiere.amazon/
OK, here’s another link with more info.
https://www.primepremiere.amazon/faq/
[scroll down through the link for more context]
I have to backtrack a little, even though I just received notice today. The platform actually just started this month, and “Sitting in Bars with Cake” is the third movie (not the first) to appear. It was preceded by Landscape with Invisible Hand and Bottoms. The service will also include series as well as movies. If I find out more about which theaters throughout the country will be showing the movie, I’ll be happy to share. I have a good feeling about this movie, and I think Bette’s character will be a real hoot–xoxo
do we think Bette will finally get a oscar nomination again?
No…I was told this was a very small part.