14th Feb2023

‘Somebody I Used To Know’ Review (Amazon Prime)

by Guest

Stars: Alison Brie, Jay Ellis, Kiersey Clemons, Danny Pudi, Haley Joel Osment | Written by Dave Franco, Alison Brie | Directed by Dave Franco

On a trip to her hometown, workaholic TV producer Ally reminisces with her ex Sean and starts to question everything about her life. Things only become more confusing when she learns Sean is getting married to Cassidy, who reminds her of the person she used to be.

What is this? How is it possible that a romantic comedy that was released in 2023 was actually good? I have no idea, and I’m just as shocked as you are. Even though it’s incredibly formulaic, Dave Franco‘s Somebody I Used To Know is nonetheless an adequate rom-com that will fulfil your needs, despite the fact that it’s by no means revolutionary.

This eccentric independent film has a surprisingly modest, cozy feel to it, and it benefits from that. Together with actor Alison Brie, who plays Ally in the movie, Franco crafted a carefully written script. To her friends and family in Leavenworth, Washington, Ally is regarded as the hometown heroine. She is a reality television producer in Los Angeles who is struggling to make ends meet and whose reality series “Desert Island” was just cancelled after three seasons.

She makes for a unique yet intriguing heroine because the movie never holds back from revealing that she isn’t the most endearing person in the world. Ally bumps into her ex-boyfriend Sean in a pub, and the two get along much as they did when they were together. The only issue is that Sean is about to get married.

However, the two of them are unable to ignore how much fun they are having or how at ease they are with one another. As a result, they find themselves wanting to further their relationship, which they previously believed to be finished. Ally will go to any lengths, even escalating tensions, to reunite with Sean.

She does nothing blatantly wrong, though and Somebody I Used To Know has a fascinating method of demonstrating to us that Ally isn’t a bad person or anything. Just in love, really. Although what she’s doing might seem a little self-centred, a lot of people have been totally deceived by the power of love.

The on-screen connection between Brie and Jay Ellis, who play Ally and Sean, respectively, is fantastic. There is a palpable sense of romance between these two in almost every moment, and they seem like a real couple. You can’t help but grin even if you’re simply listening to them talk to one another about everyday things.

Despite not being something you’ll want to see over and over again, Somebody I Used To Know generally succeeds in being pleasant as a rom-com. Though the colour scheme is undoubtedly dreary, at times it feels too long, and it may become a little confusing, this is still worthwhile to watch.

Although Somebody I Used To Know isn’t very innovative, its great stars Alison Brie and Jay Ellis, and some compelling emotional beats, make it worthwhile.

***½  3.5/5

Somebody I Used To Know is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video now.

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