Camila Mendes' Overlooked 96% Rom-Com: Música

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Camila Mendes looks toward the camera with a neutral expression while attending a red carpet event

Published Mar 8, 2026, 10:15 AM EDT

Kevin Pantoja is a writer and editor at Screen Rant based in New York City, where he brings deep expertise in blockbuster franchises ranging from Harry Potter and Spider‑Man to Succession and the MCU. A passionate storyteller with a creative writing degree (Valedictorian, Full Sail University), Kevin blends entertainment news, feature essays, and pop‑culture commentary into engaging, audience-first content

While Riverdale may have received mixed reviews for how wild and outlandish it often got, there's no denying the talented actors who broke out because of it. One of them was Camila Mendes, who has continued to deliver strong performances since the show concluded.

Música Is One Of The Best Modern Rom-Coms

Rudy Mancuso shows Camila Mendes the way in Musica

The premise of Música is an intriguing one from both a romantic standpoint and a filmmaking one. It centers on Rudy (Rudy Mancuso), a man plagued by synesthesia, which is the ability to actually see music, and the relationship he finds with a fellow Brazilian American woman (Mendes).

Música was released straight to Prime Video after an impressive debut at the South by Southwest Film Festival. As noted, it has a stellar Rotten Tomatoes rating and was praised for the visual style, as well as the performances of its leads. Both Mansuco and Mendes are great in the movie.

Part of what makes their relationship pop on screen is their real life chemistry. The two met on the set of the film and fell for one another. They started dating and are currently engaged, which explains why each scene they share is so electric.

Along with Mancuso and Mendes, Música succeeds for several other reasons. , while the film was praised for the way it put the focus on Brazilian heritage. It also did a good job of portraying a man unsure of what to do with his many passions.

Star Rudy Mancuso Also Wrote & Directed Música

Rudy Mancuso isn't just the star of Música, but he's also the man who co-wrote and directed it. He and Dan Lagana penned the screenplay, while Mancuso was the man behind the camera. The way the film utilizes synesthesia is impressive and showcases Mancuso's creative side.

We've seen plenty of people direct, write, and star in their movies, but Mancuso added another feather to his cap. He's also the film's composer, further adding to just how great his work here is. He's a big reason why it was so well-received, as he clearly had a vision for the project from the start.

Ana and William laugh together in a club in Upgraded

When we say that Camila Mendes can be one of the faces of the modern romantic comedy, we mean it. Along with the greatness that is Música, she also has a supporting role in Palm Springs. The time loop rom-com was a critical darling, a Golden Globe nominee, and was sold for a Sundance Film Festival record amount.

However, Música wasn't the only romantic comedy from 2024 in which Camila Mendes was the main star. Also released straight to Prime Video, Upgraded was another quality release in Mendes' ever-growing filmography.

Upgraded centers on Ana Santos (Mendes), an ambitious intern in the New York art world who has her life changed when she's upgraded to first class on a trip to London. While it wasn't as well-received as Música, Upgraded sits at 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, making for another critical success.

Most reviews admitted the storyline isn't anything overly original, yet praise went to the lighthearted nature of it all and Mendes' performance. Any fan of the actor, or of the romantic comedy genre in general, should check out Música because it's a modern great rom-com.