‘I Like Movies’ Review – A Portrait Of How Films Make Us Feel Human [SBIFF 2023]

I Like Movies challenges its audience to care about its inherently unlikable protagonist. 17-year-old Lawrence is narcissistic, pretentious, and outright cruel to others at times. However, as the plot progresses, it slowly begins to unravel why Lawrence acts the way that he does. Writer and Director Chandler Levack creates a fascinating character study and tells it with her own unique and authentic style.

The film follows a high schooler named Lawrence who (as the title suggests) likes movies a lot. Deeply unhappy with his life, he dreams of attending film school at NYU and escaping the small town that he feels stuck in. In hopes of saving up for college, he gets a job at a local video store where he meets Alana, the store manager. Over the course of the film, the two characters forge a peculiar bond, changing both of their lives in the process. 

With the bond between Lawrence and Alana at its core, the film gives lead actors, Isaiah Lehtinen and Romina D’Ugo, the spotlight to showcase their talents. Lehtinen gives a multilayered performance to Lawrence and delivers the character’s narcissistic moments with as much conviction as his vulnerable ones. Despite being an intensely unlikable character, Lehtinen’s performance makes the complex character sympathetic to the audience, especially as details of his past are slowly revealed. The character’s struggles with anxiety and depression are performed with sincerity and authenticity which makes it easy to forget that Lehtinen is acting.

Meanwhile, D’Ugo also shines as Alana and brings a subtlety to her performance that makes the character feel real. While she seems happy on the surface, Alana is complicated and expresses a wide range of emotions throughout the film. She’s goofy, she’s charming, but she is also hurting a great deal underneath. Alana feels like a real human being and serves as the perfect foil for Lawrence.

In a particularly vulnerable scene where Alana retells a traumatic experience to Lawrence, D’Ugo delivers an outstanding performance. From the cadence of her voice to the gestures of her hands, it is clear that D’Ugo is completely locked into the character for this scene. These subtle acting choices help to sell how affected Alana is by the events in her story. 

These complex characters elevate the film to the next level as Levack tackles the human experience. Specifically, the story explores the kind of person that we choose to be and how our behavior shapes the lives of those around us. While the audience sympathizes with Lawrence’s trauma, it also makes him blind to see how he hurts the ones around him. Meanwhile, we are forced to watch as Lawrence’s destructive behavior affects others in his life. This creates a unique effect where the film makes us care more about the side characters and root against the protagonist. 

While this initially seems like a weakness of the script, it emphasizes the impact that Lawrence’s character arc has on the audience. For the first portion of the film, the characters (and the audience) do not yet understand Lawrence’s behavior. However, when the film reveals the defining moment that changed Lawrence, it hits the audience that much harder. The film does not condone his behavior but provides a better understanding of him as a character. This makes Lawrence’s journey much more compelling as he slowly reflects on his actions.

The film features many emotional scenes and addresses heavy topics but also features some truly heartfelt moments as well. There is a recurring bit between Lawrence and his friend Matt where they act out made-up scenarios and pretend they are on SNL. These dorky and cheesy scenes feel like moments of true friendship. Levack’s superb direction excels at taking simple scenes and making them impactful. A favorite scene takes place in a sandwich shop and showcases a simple conversation between Lawrence and Alana about their favorite movies in a restaurant. The scene is sweet and genuine and Lehtinen and D’Ugo’s effortless chemistry sells the beautiful connection that these two characters share. 

The film’s willingness to lean into corniness and sincerity makes it truly special. From the silly opening skit of the film, director Chandler Levack establishes herself as passionate about film but also authentically showcasing being human. The nostalgia of the hilarious opening hooks its audience because it feels relatable. It does not take itself too seriously which makes it that much more endearing. Every technical element is directed with the same genuine passion. The story feels personal and grounded and uses its shot composition to center the focus on the characters. Additionally, the muted color palette keeps the story grounded in reality and becomes effective as Lawrence’s mental health fluctuates.

The main criticism against this film is that it often feels at odds with itself and struggles to find a balance at times. This is a drama with comedic elements, meaning that it balances its heavy topics with many humorous moments. However, there are times when it feels unclear whether the audience is meant to be emotional or laugh at a scene. This led to some uncomfortable moments of laughter from the audience, myself included. There is also the two parallel storylines between Lawrence and his mother and the relationship with his manager, Alana. Despite both being important figures in Lawrence’s life, the two plot lines feel as if they are competing for screen time. While the Alana storyline gets a sense of closure, the film would’ve benefitted from the same sense of closure for his mother. 

I Like Movies is an emotional and unapologetically human film with a challenging protagonist that truly tests its audience. Its combination of strong performances and brilliantly constructed character arcs creates a solid film that is elevated further by superb directing and writing from Chandler Levack.

I Like Movies was viewed in the U.S. Premiere section of the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Director: Chandler Levack

Writer: Chandler Levack

Rated: NR

Runtime: 99m