‘I Used To Go Here’ (review)

Produced by Jordan Yale Levine, Jordan Beckerman,
Jonathan Duffy, Kelly Williams, Andy Samberg,
Jorma Taccone, Becky Sloviter, Akiva Schaffer
Written and Directed by Kris Rey
Starring Gillian Jacobs, Josh Wiggins,
Hannah Marks, Forrest Goodluck, Jorma Taccone,
Kate Micucci, Zoë Chao, Jemaine Clement

Gillian Jacobs stars as thirtysomething writer Kate, who, at the opening of the film, has realized her dream of publishing a novel.

And yet…

She receives a call from the publishers congratulating her and gushing over the book, then slowly break the news that the book’s sales are underwhelming and that they had to cancel her book tour.

On top of that, her engagement has recently fizzled.

She receives a call from a beloved professor from her alma mater. He wants her to do a reading from her book at the university.

She jumps at the chance.

During her stay, she battles with the owner of the BnB at which she’s staying, befriends some writing students who are living together in the house across the street (which happens to be the same house where Kate lived while in college) and gets to know her favorite professor – and herself – in a more truthful light.

Light, slight yet engrossing, I Used To Go Here does hit some brutal observations that anyone who was poised for greatness in college, then fell short of the mark in life, can relate to.

That said, it’s far from depressing or bitter, just revelatory.

Jacobs hits the right notes as a former star student with sunny views of college who receives a few slaps in the face along the way.

Also very noteworthy is Josh Wiggins, who is very appealing as a writing student Kate befriends and forms a mutual attraction with. He has the charm and charisma of a young Josh Hartnett or Matt Damon.

And I would be quite remiss not to single out Brandon Daly who plays “Tall Brandon”. I love the touch that one would expect that with his name there must also be a “Short Brandon”, but he’s the only Brandon among his circle of friends, yet this is never explicitly mentioned.

He’s amusing and quirky for the entire running time but really hits his stride during an unexpected sequence late in the film. It’s funny, charming and delightful.

The wrap-up is also satisfying and believable, and I Used To Go Here, on the whole, is most worthwhile.

I Used To Go Here is now available On Demand and Digital HD