Jennifer Kaytin Robinson made her directorial debut with the romantic comedy Someone Great (2019). The 92-minute film was distributed by Netflix as an original film and officially released on April 19, 2019. Although the movie’s story, written by its director, isn’t exactly original, it stands out for its charm, relatability, and incredible cast.
Someone Great is perfect for romantic comedy audiences looking for a movie to watch with friends. It’s a perfect blend of both genres, as its comedy helps dilute the romance theme. Someone Great is centered around heartbreak, friendship, and the strength to let go and move on. Here’s a comprehensive review of Someone Great, its cast, and behind-the-scenes information.
Someone Great’s Storyline And Plot
Someone Great is set in New York. The movie’s protagonist is Jenny Young, a music journalist who recently got her dream job at Rolling Stone. However, her romantic world is turned upside down when her boyfriend of nine years, Nate Davis, does not share the same enthusiasm about moving to San Francisco for the job. To make matters worse, Nate breaks up with Jenny. Not wanting to leave New York heartbroken and depressed, she calls her two best friends, Erin Kennedy and Blair Helms, to help her heal and leave the city with fond memories.
Although Jenny’s life is the movie’s main plot, audiences are soon introduced to her best friends’ subplots. Erin has commitment issues and is hesitant to tell her girlfriend, Leah, how deeply she loves her. On the other hand, Blair has a boyfriend, Will, whom she no longer loves and is hesitant to admit. As they help Jenny find closure, they realize they each need to confront their fears. Someone Great isn’t focused on a happily ever after story but on friendship and facing the truth. Although Jenny and Nate never get back together, the movie ends with all three friends making a pact to always be there for each other.
Someone Great: Cast And Characters
Gina Rodriguez plays the lead role of Jenny Young in Someone Great. She’s also credited as a co-producer of the movie. In supporting roles, Brittany Snow plays Blair Helms, while DeWanda Wise plays Erin Kennedy. LaKeith Stanfield played Jenny’s boyfriend of nine years, who broke up with her before her move to San Francisco. Rebecca Naomi Jones plays Leah, Erin’s girlfriend, while Alex Moffat plays Blair’s boyfriend, Will. Peter Vack plays Jenny’s college crush, Matt Lasher. The movie also introduces two special cast members. Rosario Dawson plays Nate Davis’ cousin, Hannah Davis, while RuPaul Charles plays Hype, a mutual friend of the girlfriends and a drug dealer.
Audience Reactions And Critic Reviews
Generally, Someone Great was received with above-average reviews from critics. Understandably, many thought the plot wasn’t original but agree the cast’s chemistry helped make it stand out. Most audiences approved of the movie’s ending. In the past, films like this almost always have the girlfriend sacrificing her career or dream to find the perfect love. The movie closes with Jenny choosing her dream job and career over a nine-year relationship. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics favor Someone Great more than its audience ratings. The movie has a Tomatometer rating of 83% from 53 critic reviews and 65% from its Audience Score. The movie holds a 6.2/10 rating on IMDb, rated by over 24,000 users.
Someone Great Inspiration And Soundtrack
Director and writer Jennifer Kaytin Robinson admits she got inspiration to write Someone Great script from Taylor Swift‘s “Clean” song from her fifth studio album 1989. Another cited inspiration for the movie was from New Zealand singer and songwriter Lorde. According to Robinson, in her interview with Rolling Stone, the “Supercut” song “existed in the movie before any of the people in the movie existed.” “Supercut” is Lorde’s ninth song in her second studio album Melodrama (2017).
Following in her footsteps, Taylor Swift also wrote a song inspired by Someone Great (2019) movie. The song “Death by a Thousand Cuts” is the tenth song in her seventh studio album, Lover. With over 25 songs on the film’s soundtrack, none enjoyed success from the movie like Lizzo‘s “Truth Hurts.” The song became a viral sleeper hit two years after it was released. “Truth Hurts,” which debuted at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2017, rose to number 1 after the movie’s release. Thanks to the impact of Someone Great on the song, Lizzo earned a Guinness World Record for the longest-running number-one for a solo song by a female rapper, a position she held for seven weeks.
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