SomebodyIUsedToKnow Review: A Winning Trio Leads Refreshing Rom-Com
The basic set-up of Dave Franco's newest film as a director, Somebody I Used to Know, is a familiar one. Anyone who has dipped their toes into the romantic comedy genre, or even watched a Hallmark flick or two, will immediately track the familiar beats of a professionally driven woman returning to her hometown and reuniting with her ex — the one that got away. However, Somebody I Used to Know isn't quite a rom-com, though romance is in the air and there is plenty of awkward humor.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY Aspiring documentarian Ally is dealt a blow when the reality baking show she produces is abruptly canceled by the network. Stuck facing an intense creative block as she ponders her next move, Ally opts to return to the hometown she fled long ago to visit her mother . Within hours of her arrival, Ally reconnects with her charming ex Sean , who gets her to open up with a whirlwind night of free-spirited antics.
Whereas other rom-coms or romantic dramas might keep the Cassidy figure more obscured so the audience can firmly root for the leading lady, Franco and Brie's script allows Clemons' character to become her own fully-formed woman. This changes up the dynamics of Somebody I Used to Know considerably as Ally finds herself spending even more time with Cassidy than Sean.
Somebody I Used to Know is also greatly aided by its winning trio. In another performer's hands, Ally could be an endlessly frustrating character who doesn't elicit much sympathy. With Brie, though, she becomes someone easy to invest in despite all her shortcomings. There's a certain charm to her actions that, even when perhaps wishing she'll fail, keeps her from veering into outright catty territory.
While perhaps not quite funny enough to really deserve the "com" aspect of the rom-com designation, Somebody I Used to Know is a worthy addition to the growing canon of romantic streaming movies. Its awareness of frustrating, often-used tropes allows it to forge its own path with a slew of realistic characters. Those looking for the typical swoon-worthy narrative might be left a bit cold by the swerves the plot takes, but there is still plenty to love here.
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