The past will bare it all.|Feb. 10, 2023|USA|106 Min.|R
Genre: Comedy;Drama;Romance
Description: Ten years ago, Ally, played by Alison Brie, walked away from her boyfriend and their modest rural hometown to pursue a career in documentary filmmaking in Los Angeles. After three years as the showrunner of a popular reality TV series that combines elements of “Survivor,” “The Great British Baking Show,” and “Love Island,” she convinces herself that this is just another form of documentary-making but with a larger audience. Her signature technique is a ten-second pause after an interviewee finishes speaking, a moment that often yields raw emotions and unexpected revelations.
However, despite her success, Ally feels unfulfilled. When the show is unexpectedly canceled by network executives (portrayed by Sam Richardson and Zoe Chao), she is left adrift. The series had consumed her life and become her identity, yet she had never paused to assess whether this was truly where she wanted to be. With no clear plan, she returns to the hometown she once vowed to leave behind.
Back home, Ally faces a series of uncomfortable moments: she discovers her mother in bed with a man and later encounters her ex-boyfriend, Sean (played by Jay Ellis), at a local bar. This sets the stage for a story that could easily follow the predictable path of a Hallmark movie, but Brie and her husband, co-screenwriter, and director Dave Franco aim to defy expectations.
Known for her ability to craft characters with humiliating setbacks, Brie also incorporates satirical commentary on pop culture—this time targeting reality television. While these moments add a heightened tone to the film, they occasionally detract from the more grounded and emotionally resonant connections established throughout the story.
Cast director: Dave Franco
Cast actor: Alison Brie, Jay Ellis, Kiersey Clemons, Danny Pudi, Haley Joel Osment, Amy Sedaris, Julie Hagerty, Olga Merediz, Zoë Chao, Evan Jonigkeit
Original name: Somebody I Used to Know