Title: Lemonade Blessing
MPA Rating: Not Rated
Director: Chris Merola
Starring: Jake Ryan, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Jeanine Serralles
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins

What It Is: John (Ryan) has been thrust into a new Catholic school by his devout mother, Mary (Serralles). When he meets the rebellious Lilith (Friedman), it’s clear the two have chemistry. Her influence rubs off on John, sparking a crisis of conscience and faith. At the same time, he’s experiencing the all-too-familiar awakening of adolescence as he navigates relationships and his path toward manhood.

What We Think: There’s something so fun and engaging about this small but mighty film. Jake Ryan is a star in the making, and seeing more of him on screen will be a real treat. It was also a pleasure to speak with both Skye Alyssa Friedman, who is excellent here, and director Chris Merola. Merola makes some really smart choices behind the lens, and the pacing he achieves is phenomenal. Check out our interviews below for even more insight into the making of this film. Honestly, I thought it fit Tribeca perfectly—it’s sharp, funny, and thoughtful. The way it explores crises of faith and self-discovery feels authentic and well executed.

Our Grade: B, Such a fun film! I love movies like this—ones that explore human nature and religion without pushing an agenda. It’s genuine, and Merola feels like a director with plenty more stories worth telling. It has an almost early-2000s indie vibe, and that’s one of the highest compliments I can give to any film in the year of our Lord 2025. We need more movies like this—let’s make that happen. Watch the film and let Hollywood know we’d like more, please. As an audience, we deserve it. Likewise, to help us out be sure to check out the interviews below and subscribe there. We’re almost to 1,000 subscribers and you can help with that!