Somebody I Used to Know

This one's really weird with a pretty predictable storyline. I think this is the first movie where the wronged party (the fiancee) literally provides the so-called heroine with ALL of the ammunition to use against her. Who does that?! While this one has shades of My Best Friend's Wedding, the big difference is that you really don't get invested in any of the characters because none of them are likeable. I just didn't feel the love with any part of this triangle. It was all overly contrived. It's also extremely uncomfortable how the fiance has told EVERYBODY in town her business in the short 6 months she's dated this guy and they're all passing it around like party favors on the eve of the wedding. Every time we see the ex-girlfriend stalking the couple like chewed up, spit out karmic gum on a shoe while pretending to be a videographer, it makes less and less sense. If the groom didn't get rid of her, the bride-to-be should have made it clear that she was NOT welcomed. Note to anyone confused: You should NOT be at your ex's wedding as a single. That's not about insecurity, it's about the energy especially when she looks like a thirsty stripper in every scene. Even a couple of so-called emotional scenes can't save this one. And why was the lesbian hint thrown in?? Too much stuff in the soup without enough quality ingredients. On the bright side, it is a little bit better than Shotgun Wedding. Not by much though.

Hey, Streamers! It's mid-February, and it seems you either watch romantic comedies or you're anticipating the Big Game. For those who aren't into the latter, here's some more counterprogramming courtesy of Prime Video and the minds of Dave Franco and Alison Brie, Somebody I Used to Know. It's a "romantic" comedy involving wedding shenanigans, which we all love. Am I right??? Here's whether you should know this somebody.

Dave Franco directs the screenplay he wrote with his wife and the movie's star, Alison Brie. Somebody I Used to Know takes place over a few days in Leavenworth, Washington when Ally (Brie) returns to her mother's home after her reality television show was canceled. While in town on day one, Ally predictably runs into her old flame, Sean (Jay Ellis), after ten years; and they seem to pick up right where they left off. Sean, of course, is hiding the big news of his impending wedding, which leads Ally to go full-on Julianne Potter (My Best Friend's Wedding reference). Wedding sabotage hijinks ensue.

This storyline is so tiresome. How many times do we have to see a woman, usually, attempt to sabotage her ex's wedding? Why would anyone think that's going to turn out good for you in the end? Why would you even want someone who was easily manipulated by you? Is that satisfying? I have so many questions for this played-out genre.

Now, Somebody I Used to Know steps right into all of the problems with this genre of romantic comedy. It is predictable and unoriginal. In fact, it borrows so heavily from My Best Friend's Wedding that I am now wondering if that was Franco and Brie's objective. It is a shame that this movie feels so derivative because Alison Brie is generally a likeable screen presence. You can easily root for the characters she plays, even someone who is being so manipulative. The one good thing that Franco and Brie have added to this movie is a theme about self-empowerment. The screenplay revisits ideas about making oneself happy, and it is impactful at times. I wish those ideas had been more in the forefront than the wedding sabotage.

There really isn't much else here. There's a nice sing-along to look forward to. Haley Joel Osment and Danny Pudi get some good moments, but Osment, in particular, is so unnecessary. That's all really. Eh. *Shrug*

Ultimately, Somebody I Used to Know is fine but too derivative, unoriginal and predictable to really be interesting. While the movie hints at other meaningful themes, it settles with the cliches of wedding sabotage movies to be its driving force. That's pretty disappointing. Alison Brie is a pleasant on-screen presence and Haley Joel Osment gets some daffy moments. I'd only suggest a handful of popcorn for this if you need something to fill the time while waiting for Rihanna's halftime show.

IMDB, you are guys are crazy. I'm genuinely shocked at the pearl clutching in the comments. (Oh my god, how dare someone try and reignite something with someone already in a relationship?! Think of the children!)

We, collectively, needed a movie like this. Somebody I Used To Know is one of the sweetest, most earnest, gentle romantic films I've seen in a long time. A movie about love and with no gimmicks: there's no time traveling, no amnesia, no action component. Just a simple story about a girl returning home and remembering a lost love.

Alison Brie is wonderful in this movie, and it makes me wonder why or how she hasn't been in a thousand of these movies by now. She's beautiful, funny, has such natural screen presence and chemistry. (And let's be honest, there's no one complaining about her baring it all multiple times) This movie is also a reunion between her and Community co-star (and supposedly really good friend IRL) Danny Pudi, whom was fantastic, but definitely underused. Same with Hayley Joel Osmont, to be honest. This movie presents a fun cast but unfortunately, doesn't have them as present as i'd have liked.

But it's okay because as familiar as the story may be, I think it's fundamentally quite strong. Jay Ellis, Kiersey Clemons, and Brie have a great dynamic and I like the subtle mind games and entendres that dominate their conversations in the middle of the movie. But, it gives way to a sweeter, more thoughtful and ultimately, healthier take on love and relationships that I think is a direct response to the tropes of the past.

This movie also looks GORGEOUS with the picturesque, highly unique town of Leavingworth, Washington, with its German inspired town centre playing the perfect romantic setting for a movie like this. Honestly, this movie makes me want to visit that town. It looks incredible. But it's also a testament to the cinematography that every image looks so crisp and gorgeous, even if I could've used a bit more cinematic flair.

I don't know what to say, I really liked this movie. It felt mature, it felt earnest, it felt right. I genuinely don't understand why the reception has been so negative. This movie is perfect for Valentine's Day.

Greetings again from the darkness. As consistently as January brings horror films, we can count on February to deliver Romantic Comedies released around Valentine's Day. Although, these days, even rom-coms tend to arrive carrying the weight of social messaging wrapped in inclusion, with a concerted effort to avoid ruffling feathers and hurting feelings. The husband and wife writing team of Dave Franco and Alison Brie, with Franco directing and Brie in a lead role, have managed to play by the new rules and still deliver a watchable film - albeit one that I found more sad than comedic.

Ally (Alison Brie, THE POST, "Mad Men") is a showrunner/producer of a dessert-centric reality TV show. Season three has just wrapped, and Ally has been informed her show will not be renewed. As with any career-minded person, Ally is devastated and heads home to visit her mother and clear her head. The hometown she left a decade ago to chase her dream of being a documentary filmmaker in Los Angeles is the 'always Christmas' town of Leavenworth in Washington state. An awkward intrusion on her mother (Julie Hagerty) sends Ally to the local bar where she bumps into the former flame she dumped to purse those doc dreams.

Ally and Sean (Jay Ellis, TOP GUN: MAVERICK, 2022) quickly fall into the comfort zone of a long ago relationship, and spend the night frolicking about the town. Sean does refuse the intimate offer from Ally, which leads her to blindly stumble into his engagement weekend the next day. Yep, it's a detail Sean conveniently forgot to mention during their wild night, and now Ally is face to face with Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons, ANTEBELLUM, 2020) and Sean's entire family. His mother's (Olga Merediz) request for Ally to be the wedding videographer is just the opening Ally needs to begin her battle plan of stopping the wedding.

It's at this point where we can't help but think of MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING (1997), and the writers take this head-on with a mention. We can't tell if Ally thinks she can win back Sean or if she is merely taking out her frustrations in recognizing what she turned down years ago when she chose career of Sean. The tone begins to shift when Ally sees Cassidy performing with her punk rock band, and as the two women talk to each other, it becomes clear that Ally views Cassidy as a younger version of herself. Cassidy even discloses that her bisexuality caused the estrangement with her closed-minded parents. So how does one undermine the wedding of another who isn't so bad after all?

Also involved are Ally's old best friend Benny (Brie's "Community" co-star Danny Pudi), who injects some humor and tries to prevent her meddling, and Sean's stepbrother played by Haley Joel Osment, who tosses out a Brendan Fraser reference ... actually kind of funny, especially in comparison to the Jeremy Renner joke that will likely cause mass cringing. Most of the characters are grounded enough that it's a difference from many rom-coms, but we do get the feeling a few times that much effort was put forth in creating something outside the normal tropes, rather than the typical "aww, how sweet" moments we are usually subjected to in this genre.

Dave Franco is the younger brother of James Franco, and is a frequent actor who previously directed THE RENTAL (2020), one that varies substantially from this one. Alison Brie is best known for her acting roles, but also previously wrote HORSE GIRL (2020) and SPIN ME ROUND (2022). Here, she doesn't shy away from a character that we initially pull for, yet end up kind of annoyed with. It's not a typical break-up movie, or sappy romance, or he/she is 'the one' story. Instead, it draws on mean girl tendencies, jealousies, and regrets ... yet also delivers the message of staying true to one's self. As a compliment, it can be said that the film cannot be lumped in with our usual Valentine's Day saccharine.

Opens in theaters on February 10, 2023.

I tried to get through Somebody That I Use Know, but it was a struggle. Actually, I gave up after an hour and fifteen minutes. I am certain I saw enough to know I did not care for it. No spoilers here. I won't rehash what other reviewers have correctly pointed out about this film's abundant weak points. For me, the worst part was not being able to appreciate any of the relationships portrayed in this saga. On a more positive note, the locations were really beautiful Also, I can honestly say that the only two characters with legitimate chemistry were Alison Brie and Danny Pudi (real life friends from their years on Community).