I Used to Go Here
A college graduate in a state of emotional and professional ennui, returning to his or her alma mater in search of inspiration and/or guidance isn’t a new concept, but as filtered through the talents of writer/director Kris Rey in I Used to Go Here, it feels remarkably fresh.
The well-made comedy centers on 35-year-old Chicago writer Kate (Gillian Jacobs, Don’t Think Twice), whose debut novel is underperforming to the point that its publishers cancel her book tour. Atop this career disappointment, her ex-fiancé won’t return her calls or texts and all of her friends seem to be pregnant, so when her former Illinois University professor David Kirkpatrick (Jemaine Clement) invites her to do a reading on campus, all of the ingredients for a quality rebound story start falling into place.
Back in Carbondale — home of IU inspiration Southern Illinois University, of which Rey (Unexpected) is an alum — Kate encounters a series of goofy yet realistic characters, beginning with her overly earnest grad assistant chauffeur Elliot (Rammel Chan, The End of the Tour).
A joy to behold once again, Jacobs utilizes her uniquely charming brand of jaded optimism as Kate navigates familiar and new faces, irking her bed & breakfast owner and befriending the quirky students who live in her former house, all the while trying to get a read on David, with whom she sensed a mutual connection during her undergrad days.
Two of comedy’s most gifted stars, Jacobs and Clement shine brightest in their shared scenes. And with the exception of Josh Wiggins (Greyhound) — whose Hugo is distractingly puppy-dog interested in Kate, an attitude that doesn’t jibe with the heartbreak he allegedly feels from his girlfriend April (Hannah Marks, Banana Split) possibly cheating on him — the ensemble ably supports the two leads.
But beyond the bubbly intergenerational fun and measured character growth, I Used to Go Here further stands apart from its genre peers through its unpredictability. Despite building to two fairly inevitable romantic entanglements, one hook-up is more complicated than it appears and the other is handled with applaudable maturity.
Even the reason for Kate’s wedding bell blues is more soulful and self-empowering than her actions initially suggest — a testament to Rey’s knowledge of and willingness to subvert rom-com expectations, as well as her commitment to challenging gender norms.
Grade: A-minus. Not rated, but with adult themes and language. Available to rent starting Aug. 7 via Grail Moviehouse
(Photo: Gravitas Ventures)
