Boots Riley's 'Boosters': Fashion, Fun, and Frantic Fantasy

Boots Riley returns with "I Love Boosters," a vibrant and surreal cosmic send-up of fashion consumerism. The film follows the "Velvet Gang," an outlaw trio comprising Corvette (Keke Palmer), Sade (Naomi Ackie), and Mariah (Taylour Paige), who steal designer clothing to sell at a profit.

Their motto, "Fashion. Forward. Philanthropy.," highlights their role as inner-city Robin Hoods of couture. They confront Christie Smith (Demi Moore), a monomaniacal designer and branding genius who controls her fashion empire tyrannically.

The narrative takes a magical-realist turn as the gang encounters extraordinary elements, including a booster from China with teleportation abilities. This propels the movie into a reality-hopping adventure akin to "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

"I Love Boosters" escalates into a gonzo spectacle, satirizing global capitalism and fashion's role as a societal narcotic. Despite its sometimes incoherent vision, the film is a spirited, playful provocation celebrating street-smart rebellion.