Jennifer Kaytin Robinsonmay be about to become the world’s leading expert on seasonal murder with her remake ofI Know What You Did Last Summer, butaudiences really need to know what this director did six summers agowhen she droppedone of the most overlooked comediesin recent memory. A few years before delivering a delicious satire of Gen Z culture in 2022’sDo Revenge, Robinson releasedSomeone Greatfor Netflix,a criminally underrated movie that isn’t a rom-combut more a female friendship-focused comedy with romantic elements that exited the public conversation much too quickly after first hitting the streamer. StarringGina RodriguezandLaKeith Stanfield,Someone Greatnot only boasts an all-star cast of hilarious heartbreakers, but it alsodelivers a poignant commentary on adulthoodthat is sure to leave you sobbing and smiling in equal measure.
What Is ‘Someone Great’ About?
Robinson’s film follows Rodriguez’s Jenny, a music journalist in New York City who has been in a nine-year relationship with Stanfield’s Nate since college. When Jenny gets an offer for her dream job, a managerial position with Rolling Stone in San Francisco,the pair’s differences finally come toa head, and they break up, leaving Jenny in shambles a mere week before the move. Seeking to distract herself from the inescapable emotional turmoil, Jenny gathers her best friends, Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow), and together the three tryto have one last adventureby attending an annual concert called Neon Classic. As you’d expectfrom any successful comedy,things don’t quite go as planned, and the chaos of the trio’s misadventures sets the stage for both a funny romp through New York’s music scene and a haunting journey back through Jenny and Nate’s shared history.
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As both a raucous comedy and an introspective romantic drama, Robinson’s film more than succeeds, but what really carriesSomeone Greatare the film’s memorable performances. The chemistry between the movie’s main trio is effortless, achieving that easygoing rapport that sellsthe film’s celebration of female friendship. AndSomeone Great’s supporting cast is equally effective. As always, Stanfield kills it as Nate, playing off Rodriguez’s earnest energy to deliver a grounded, sobering performance that effectively lingers over the rest of the film as Jenny tries to get over who she thought was the love of her life. The most delightful member of the supporting cast, however, has to beRuPaul. Appearing only in one scene as the main trio’s drug supplier, Hype,RuPaul nevertheless soaks up every minute of screentimewith a level of charisma that simply can’t be taught.
‘Someone Great’ Celebrates the Art of Growing Up As Grown Adults
Coupled with the talent ofSNLalumAlex Moffatas Blair’s overbearing boyfriend,Someone Great’s supporting cast elevates the familiar premise of Robinson’s film intoan entertaining joyride through the chaos of confused adulthood. Filled to the brim with drunken gags, unexpected hook-ups, and quick-witted arguments, the film contains all the antics you’d expect fromthe quintessential Hollywood comedy, but what’s ultimately most surprising aboutSomething Greatis just how sensitively it treats its romantic subplots. With Jenny suffering from flashbacks to her time with Nate, no matter where she ventures in the city,Someone Greatastutely captures what it feels like to be haunted by heartbreak, and it doesn’t skip out on its side characters either.
With Blair initially unable to break things off with the boyfriend she barely tolerates and Erin too scared to commit to her girlfriend,all three women are given the space to assert themselvesinSomeone Great, allowing Robinson’s film to highlightthe relatable ways adults confront their ageand force themselves to move forward in life. These efforts culminate in Jenny’s final pursuit of Nate and perhaps the most tender, poetic farewell speech ever uttered in a rom-com, which is par for the course ina film largely inspired by aTaylor Swiftsong. Suffice it to say,Someone Greatis that rare gem that honors the crux of both its genres,the perfect film for adults struggling to confront their emotional obstacles, with its rowdy partying complemented by tense scenes of equally engaging intimacy.
Someone Great
