★ 6 / 10
With “I Used to Be Funny,” writer /
Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots
With “I Used to Be Funny,” writer / director Ally Pankiw intertwines mystery and emotional depth to create a compelling narrative in her dark dramedy about a…
With “I Used to Be Funny,” writer / director Ally Pankiw intertwines mystery and emotional depth to create a compelling narrative in her dark dramedy about a missing teenage girl and her friendship with a stand-up comedian with a debilitating case of PTSD. By exploring the various complexities of trauma, recovery, and healing in a refreshing, honest way, the film is poignant and feels highly personal. This is a story of emotional suffering, fractured relationships, and the long-term process of reclaiming happiness and a sense of identity.
Revealing too much of the plot will spoil the film, so this review will be as vague as possible.
Sam (Rachel Sennott) is an aspiring comedian who works as an au pair for Brooke (Olga Petsa). Told in flashbacks over a span of the last two years, the story begins with a news report that Brooke has gone missing. Sam, who is suffering from a traumatic event, decides to join in the search for the girl she used to nanny. Blending the past and present, it becomes clear why these two women are dealing with emotional wounds in their own unique way.
This is the perfect vehicle for Sennott to showcase her range as an actor, and she delivers a powerful performance. she captures the complexity of her character with nuance, blending drama with a touch of comedy when her situation becomes too much to bear.
While her story isn’t on its own very original, Pankiw is an outstanding storyteller, shifting seamlessly between the past and present. The dual timeline keeps the narrative unpredictable and surprising, which will keep you engaged during the film’s slower moments (it could use some tightening overall). The challenging subject matter can feel upsetting and heartbreaking, but it’s also so important to see stories that highlight essential aspects of the female experience. Sam and Brooke have a loving yet complicated relationship, and Pankiw explores this friendship with a heart-wrenching candor.
“I Used to Be Funny” isn’t a film that’s easy to watch, but it gives a highly realistic portrayal of the slow and agonizing healing process after living through a traumatic experience.
By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS
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★ 5 / 10
She Used to Be Funny you guys
exlana
I find the back and forth between past and present extremely unnecessary. It tries so hard to be 'mysterious' with its story telling but it ended up being…
I find the back and forth between past and present extremely unnecessary. It tries so hard to be 'mysterious' with its story telling but it ended up being excruciatingly cheesy and predictable. It's not as groundbreaking and profound as it think it did.
Although there are some funny moments, there's a significant imbalance between the poignant drama and the comedy. It fails to smoothly blend the two, and ended up being awkward and sometimes cringe.
I'm a massive fan of Sennott, and unfortunately her alone cannot carry the whole film. Ironically the only funny character, among dozens of stand up comedians.
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★ 6 / 10
get rid of the aunt
SnoopyStyle
Sam Cowell (Rachel Sennott) is a stand-up comic with some success who does a bit of work as a nanny. Her 14 year old former charge Brooke Renner (Olga Petsa)…
Sam Cowell (Rachel Sennott) is a stand-up comic with some success who does a bit of work as a nanny. Her 14 year old former charge Brooke Renner (Olga Petsa) is declared missing and shows up smashing her door in anger. Two years earlier, Sam gets hired by Cameron Renner (Jason Jones) to watch his 12 year old daughter while his wife is sick in the hospital.
The first half is intriguing. The mystery of the incident keeps my interest. Once it's revealed, the movie goes into Lifetime territories. The one glaring problem is the aunt's presence. Sam would notify her at every step. The fact that she exists is an exit ramp for Sam to take. That diminishes the intensity of the story. If she doesn't exist, Brooke would be running away from a foster home. The police could be less than co-operative. Then Sam would feel like she's Brooke's only hope. That would raise the intensity of the second half. As for Olga Petsa, she's a little old to play a 12 year old. Brooke's young age is very important to her feelings. Otherwise, Sennott is excellent. I can see this story working, but it needs some changes.
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6.5/10
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there are NO funny female comedians. Watched a netflix series of stand ups and none of the females were remotely funny. Same with the Comedy Central roasts, None of the females and very few of the males are even funny.