Somebody I Used To Know

By What on What's Good - Jovin Tardif January 12, 2023

Somebody I Used To Know

Black Bear Pictures, Temple Hill Entertainment

Amazon Studios

Description

Workaholic TV producer Ally (Alison Brie) faces a major professional setback which sends her running to the comforts of her hometown. She spends a whirlwind evening reminiscing with her first love Sean (Jay Ellis) and starts to question everything about the person she's become. Things only get more confusing when she discovers Sean is getting married to Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons) whose confidence and creative convictions remind Ally of who she used to be. Directed by Dave Franco and written by Franco & Alison Brie, SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW is an unconventional love story about three people who unexpectedly help each other rediscover who they really are, where they came from, and where they're going.

Release date

February 10, 2023

My Rating

6/10

#whatonwhatsgood Fan Club Rating

59%

Directed by

Dave Franco

Written by

Dave Franco and Alison Brie

Produced by

Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Isaac Klausner, Ben Stillman, Leigh Kittay and Michael Heimler

Starring

Alison Brie as Ally

Jay Ellis as Sean

Kiersey Clemons as Cassidy

Julie Hagerty as Libby

Haley Joel Osment as Jeremy

Amy Sedaris as Deedee

Danny Pudi as Benny

Zoë Chao as Ramona

Evan Jonigkeit as Chef Jamie

Olga Merediz as Joanne

Ayden Mayeri as Kayla

Kelvin Yu as Christian

Cinematography

Brian Lannin

Edited by

Ernie Gilbert

Music by

Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans

Director Dave Franco discusses Somebody I Used To Know

“This story examines the theme of ‘the one who got away,’ and how we tend to remember the past through a happier lens.”
“In reality, the reason they ‘got away’ was likely because there were inherent issues in the relationship which may never be resolved.”
“Alison and I had such a wonderful experience working together on The Rental and, since then, we've been very proactive in trying to find ways to collaborate. The genre that we share the most mutual affection for is romantic comedies, so we decided to start there.”
“All of the characters are good people. But they are also flawed and dealing with complex emotions and choices as they try to figure out how to be the best versions of themselves, whether that means being a better communicator in their relationships or needing a full spiritual makeover.”
“On the surface, this movie appears to be about a girl chasing a guy, and it definitely starts out that way.”
"But it's also about two women who create an unexpected bond, and push each other to make discoveries about themselves and fight for what they believe in. We're essentially Trojan horsing this female self-empowerment story inside a more traditional romantic comedy format.”

Alison Brie discusses Somebody I Used To Know

“When the pandemic hit in March 2020, we used that time to flesh out an idea we had about a messy love triangle, where all three people involved had mutual respect and affection for one another. And we were excited to construct it in a way that tapped into the nostalgia of our favorite rom-coms from the ‘80s and ‘90s but populate it with characters who felt true to the current moment.”
“Life can be messy, and we wanted to create a realistic world in which people don't always make the right decisions, especially when it comes to a romantic partnership.”
“There are so many things that can cloud one's judgment, and our characters are challenged to navigate their own emotional baggage and relationship history in order to find a clear path forward. It's complicated!”
“We hope that audiences relate to Ally because she is flawed. It's easy to take the moral high ground from afar, but who hasn't been in a relationship that is messy and complicated? Love makes us do stupid things.
“We're not expecting audiences to condone all of Ally's decisions. Rather, we ask you to bear with her, and all of our characters, as they figure out their issues.”
“We didn't want there to be any villains in the movie – and this especially pertains to Sean, who we could have easily turned into an asshole. But we wanted him to be just as redeemable as everyone else.”
“Even the title is a play on that, where you assume it's in reference to Ally going after Sean but actually, the one who got away (or the ‘somebody I used to know’) is herself.”

Ben Stillman of Black Bear Pictures discusses Somebody I Used To Know

“The themes are apparent without ever hitting you over the head, always letting the characters and relationships remain the priority.”
“Everyone can relate to having to choose between career and relationships, the idea of yourself as an evolving person, the questions of who you were, who you’re becoming, and where you’re going to find peace.”
“People find their identity in their relationships and careers, and this is a story of what happens when those things get stripped away. You’ve left thinking, ‘Who am I, and how do I now navigate this world?’”

Michael Heimler discusses Somebody I Used To Know

“I think it’s a natural point of introspection for audiences, who, I’m sure, at times, look back on what they’re doing and question whether or not this is the path they want to be on, and it’s interesting to watch Ally tackle these issues in her unique way. We’re all excited for audiences to see this. It’s a fun time, it’s an emotional film, it’s dramatic but in a great way. You can watch it with your friends or your significant other. You can explore your own relationships or breakups, or just have a good time and watch Ally go through her own journey.”

Jay Ellis discusses Somebody I Used To Know

“Dave and Alison had such a clear vision of what they wanted. From our first call, they were locked into creating a cinematically beautiful and rich film that had humor, heartbreak and nuance. And that carried over during filming; there was never a question of the target we were trying to hit. It was also great to be able to turn to either of them and say ‘Hey, what were you guys thinking here when you wrote this line?’ They were in sync. They were gracious. They were kind. And even though they wanted to hear every word on the page, they still created space to play and find things.”
“Sean, to me, is like anyone who has ever bumped into an ex at a time when they are happy and things are good.”
“Life is just funny. It always wants to test you. Sean wants to make sure he’s making the right choices in his life and not just for himself. Sometimes you know immediately that you made the right decisions and sometimes it takes thinking through it and walking down memory lane to realize it.
“When we meet Sean, he’s happy.”
“He’s built the house of his dreams, he’s marrying a woman he loves and adores and he’s building the family he always wanted. Things are good. Then he bumps into Ally and it makes him become nostalgic and reflect on the times they had together and how maybe his life could have ended up a little different. It’s not a road he intended on going down but reminiscing with her brings up a lot of old unresolved feelings.”