After the conclusion of the third season of her own television show, Hollywood stud Ally (Alison Brie) travels home to visit her mother and spend time with old friends. When she runs into her ex Sean (Jay Ellis) she begins to question who she’s become, and her introduction to Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons) makes her question it even further. Somebody I Used to Know is a romantic comedy that begs viewers to look at themselves in the mirror and ask if they are being true to themselves. It’s a mold-breaking venture that appeals to the masses, and not just the niche group that typically finds themselves lining up for romantic comedies.
Let’s be clear, when I walked into the theater to see Somebody I Used to Know, I was more excited that Writer-Director Dave Franco and Brie were actually in the building for the screening–and not so excited to watch another romantic comedy. The stigma that surrounds these films (and is perpetuated by cookie-cutter scripts) makes it difficult to get excited for films like this–but Somebody I Used to Know breaks the mold in the opening seconds.
Romantic comedies always seem to miss the mark in regard to emotion–always struggling to really hone in on the reality of the things we face when it comes to love (or anything else for that matter), but Somebody I Used to Know allows the things that occur on screen to be more visceral, almost tangible, as nearly every piece of this film is guaranteed to reach someone. It’s no surprise that most romantic comedies tend to be geared toward a female audience–but Franco and Brie tear down the barrier that exists between films of this nature and your typical male audience. The film is wide-reaching, and it’s easily accessible to all. I honestly didn’t know that a romantic comedy had the ability to be accessible to such a wide-range of viewers, but Somebody I Used to Know proved that it’s absolutely possible.
This is an immensely talented cast that never misses a beat along the way throughout Somebody I Used to Know. They exude emotion and they create comedy seemingly out of thin air–but believe it or not, it’s Haley Joel Osment (Jeremy) that steals the show. He’s the one that created the biggest laughs, and he’s the person that I think viewers wish that they could be most like. Jeremy just wants to be himself, and he is. He’s unapologetic in his journey through life, and the world loves him because of it–and as I sat there in the theater, watching his character remain true to himself, unwilling to falter, I was reminded of the beauty that exists in the world. It’s Osment who, through every other compelling emotional piece of Somebody I Used to Know, is the one that got to me–he’s the glue that holds the film together, cutting through the tension, providing honest, relatable comedy, and just reminding everyone watching to be yourself.
At every turn there’s something else to appreciate about Somebody I Used to Know, and another piece of the puzzle that surprises me. There was no doubt in my mind that the acting would be wonderful, but I never expected Osment to be the shining star. My expectations for the film as a whole were crushed the moment Brie opened her mouth, and the real, honest emotions strewn throughout the film were unlike anything I’ve ever seen from the genre before. I laughed, I teared up, and I quickly came to the conclusion that Somebody I Used to Know is simply spectacular in every way.
Directed by Dave Franco.
Written by Dave Franco & Alison Brie.
Starring Alison Brie, Jay Ellis, Kiersey Clemons, Danny Pudi, Olga Merediz, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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