Somebody I Used to Know
By Jennifer Green,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Romantic dramedy has nudity, sex, drinking, and language.
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Somebody I Used to Know
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What's the Story?
Ally (Alison Brie) hosts a reality TV show that's just been canceled at the beginning of SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW. She decides to travel home to Washington State to visit her mom (Julie Hagerty), and on her first night back, she runs into her ex-boyfriend Sean (Jay Ellis). When she discovers Sean is about to get married to younger musician Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons), Ally is suddenly filled with regrets about having ended their relationship all those years ago in favor of pursuing her career in Los Angeles. She gets herself invited to the wedding and begins plotting to win Sean back, even as it begins to dawn on her that it might not be the right move for any of them.
Is It Any Good?
Despite an uneven pace and sense of humor, it's refreshing to see a comedy with such an appealingly diverse cast address that in-between life stage of your 30s. The main characters of Somebody I Used to Know are well into adulthood but still figuring out who they are and what they want to do with their lives. The title of the film could refer to the exes who reencounter after 10 years, or to main character Ally's recognition of her younger self in her ex's new fiancée. The theme of how young women sometimes feel they must choose between a relationship and a career, and the taking stock of life choices that often happens in mid-adulthood, all give the characters' antics slightly deeper meaning.
The storyline is Bridget Jones's Diary meets My Best Friend's Wedding; the latter film is even referenced by one character. Like those earlier movies, it's the cast of Somebody that makes this movie fun to watch. That's true even though not all the humor lands and some scenes lag a bit or feel overly scripted. And the film's watchability is thanks not just to the lead actors but also to the very strong supporting cast, particularly Danny Pudi as the reliable best friend and Julie Hagerty, who steals the show in each of her few scenes as the supportive and sexually liberated mom. The film's lush Pacific Northwest setting is an added draw.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Ally's behavior in Somebody I Used to Know. Can you empathize with her even if you don't necessarily approve of the things she does?
The film is set in the Pacific Northwest and the characters live in a touristy town where "it's always Christmas." How does the setting match the storyline? How would the film have been different if it were set in, say, Los Angeles, New York City, or Honolulu?
This film has nudity and sexual situations and language. Mostly these aspects are used for comedy, but a final scene where characters are doing a TV interview naked has deeper meaning. How so?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: February 10, 2023
- Cast: Alison Brie , Jay Ellis , Kiersey Clemons
- Director: Dave Franco
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Black actors, Queer actors
- Studio: Amazon Prime Video
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 106 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: sexual content, graphic nudity, language throughout and brief drug use
- Last updated: February 10, 2023
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