Share this
Somebody I Used To Know is Prime Video’s newest rom-com that is directed and co-written by Dave Franco, and stars Alison Brie, Jay Ellis, and Kiersey Clemons. The film follows Allie, the showrunner of her own reality television series, who heads back to her hometown to recharge only to run into her ex, Sean. As she ponders how life could have been different, she meets Sean’s fiancé who reminds Allie of the person she used to be.
Read Also: “Aftersun”: A Strange Coming Of Age Story
Despite having watched the trailer, the film itself is something that turned out to be different and unexpected in its own way. The performances between Alison Brie and Kiersey Clemons are simple yet loud, as they are the primary forces behind the film’s themes.
It becomes clear that they are two sides of the same coin and their chemistry amplifies this extremely well. And while the chemistry is the exact opposite between Alison and Jay, I feel that it works in favor of the narrative that is being pushed, as you see both of their characters being completely different from who they were years prior. And if you’re a Community fan, you’ll be happy to see Danny Pudi reunited with Brie, and he is a joy to watch in this film.
The story and the writing is extremely tasteful as well as realistic for the most part. As funny as it can be at times, it’s well balanced with its more dramatic moments, which are filled with messy emotions that are both raw and universal. This is mostly due to how much the movie touches upon the past and present of some of its characters as they reflect on what could have been, as well as what could happen. While our main character engages in absolutely toxic behavior, it’s not without its consequences and influences, and it’s not something that immediately leads to a fairy tale ending.
Much of the movie focuses on the reality of love and romantic relationships, what you’re willing to sacrifice to live the life you want, and the compromises that are made to make something work. And that’s a huge aspect of the film that I just love to see in a modern day rom-com. The film pushes the lesson that it’s not always going to work out the way you want it to, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an unhappy ending. Life will pull you in one direction over another and lead you to something or someone better, so why not pursue it?
But mostly, the film encourages finding the person you once were and reconnecting with them, reigniting certain passions you once had. Just because one chapter has closed doesn’t mean you should forsake all of who you once were. Somebody I Used To Know is strangely hilarious but also manages to provoke us into some self-reflection, especially when I think about all the choices I’ve made in my life and how it’s all led me here to this moment. And that, I think, is what makes this simple film about love and life inspiring in its own unique way.
Samosa Rating:
Somebody I Used To Know receives 4 out of 5 Samosas.
Somebody I Used To Know is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Runtime: 1h 46m
