The 80's diner

Marissa is excited about her 22nd birthday bash with her friends. Leslie asks Marissa if she knows what their parents have planned. Marissa scoffs, uninterested in family celebrations, as she equates love/attention with online validation and friend adoration. We’re introduced to Andy, Mikila, and Markel, highlighting their flaws and superficial personas. Andy is confronted by his brother about his sexuality. Mikila flaunts her wealth, treating people poorly. Markel tries to impress with fabricated rhymes of hardship. The friends, eager for a new experience and online content, stumble upon a targeted ad for ‘The 80’s Diner,’ promising authentic 80s food and atmosphere. The ad feels strangely compelling. The group arrives at ‘The 80’s diner’, which looks flamboyant from the outside but when they step in, it transforms into a vibrant 80s scene. The owner greets them with a knowing smile, explaining the diner's unique ‘immersive’ experience. Each friend is suddenly transported into the life of a family member in the 1980s. Marissa becomes her mother, a young woman struggling with societal expectations and a lack of opportunities despite her intelligence. Andy becomes his cousin, hiding his true sexuality in a homophobic environment. Mikila becomes her grandmother, a working-class woman facing economic hardship and prejudice. Markel becomes his uncle, a true street hustler who did something that changed his life forever. They are forced to live out these lives, experiencing the challenges and struggles their family members faced in the 80s. Marissa deals with sexism, Andy feels the pressure of hiding his true self, Mikila grapples with the realities of poverty, and Markel confronts the true meaning of living a street life and the consequences that come with it. Their modern sensibilities clash with the 80s social norms, making their experiences even more jarring. They begin to develop empathy for their family members and a deeper understanding of the hardships of the past. The superficiality of their modern lives fades as they confront genuine struggles.