I Used to Go Here

Starring: Gillian Jacobs, Jemaine Clement, Josh Wiggins, Forrest Goodluck, Hannah Marks, Kate Micucci, Zoe Chao
Directed by: Kris Rey
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Comedy, Drama
2020

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A struggling writer (Gillian Jacobs) returns to speak at her alma mater and gets caught up in the lives of a group of college students.

Review:

Tim: I really like both Gillian Jacobs and Jemaine Clement, so I was cautiously optimistic about Kris Rey's film. It feels like the work of a first time director, which isn't the case. There's some nice moments sprinkled throughout the film and the movie sort of tries to explore some relatable concepts, but it ultimately doesn't work nearly as effectively as it needed to. It's thankfully a short movie, so it doesn't overstay it's welcome, but there's not much to get excited about.

The story is fine, I suppose. Our protagonist is a writer whose debut novel underwhelms. She goes back to her alma mater to give a speech, reconnects with an old professor, and befriends a group of college students. None of the events depicted in the film feel believable, but it does seem like an attempt was made to capture something most people can relate to. For many adults, especially when you're struggling in the real world, there is a sense of comfort and familiarity that you look back on your college years with. Everyone who attended college undoubtedly experienced ups and downs, but with the passage of time, even the downs get smoothed out some. Many people recall that period of their lives as something special, wonderful. I liked the idea of a mid-30s woman returning to college and slipping back into that lifestyle. A good deal of this movie is about a woman hiding from her real life and taking comfort in her past. That's relatable for many people and it's worth constructing a movie around. Unfortunately, Rey's film never really gets this right. She's the sole writer of the movie as well, so it's obvious who is responsible.

I Used to Go Here is never a bad movie- it's just a lackluster one. The story has good ideas, but it's never especially insightful. There's lighthearted moments, but it's never really funny. The story is mostly predictable. The climax should have been a high point, but it just kind of happens. It's a perfectly ordinary movie that's never taxing to watch, but utterly forgettable in nearly every way. I don't regret watching the film, but I'm unlikely to remember anything about it in six months.

I'm bummed about that for a number of reasons, but chiefly because it wastes the talent of Jacobs and Clement. I've been a big fan of Jacobs since her days on Community, and Clement gave an unforgettable performance in Legion. Those are two of my favorite series, so I was excited to see these two together. Jacobs is good in the lead role- she has enough of that relatable everywoman quality. She never seems to take herself too seriously, even when she's especially earnest. She gives a good performance here. The problem is that the script lets her down. Clement is good too, I suppose. I'm not entirely sure what he saw in the role. He doesn't really do anything exciting. He has a few decent scenes, but it's surprisingly little. It was fun seeing them together, but not as much as I'd expected. Rey actually does better with the supporting cast. I liked Josh Wiggins far more than I expected I would. There's something about him here that kind of makes me want to punch him in the face, but he also grows on you as the film progresses. Brandon Daley was fantastic as "Tall Brandon". He might not have given a great performance, but he was infinitely relatable. There's dudes exactly like him on every college campus in America. I enjoyed his authentic self showing up on screen. He might not have had to act a lot, but he was a big contributor to the film. Forrest Goodluck was fine. The larger supporting cast was quite strong.

I Used to Go Here definitely touches on some worthwhile themes, even when Rey's film doesn't fully explore them. You can do far worse than this film, but it's absolutely a movie you could skip and you'd never miss it. I doubt very much I'll ever have someone ask, "Have you ever seen I Used to Go Here?". It's a movie that will disappear and spend its existence as one of those films people skip over when they're looking for something to watch.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6



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