I Used to Be Funny

As a person who has also experienced trauma, I've often wondered - how would I ever approach writing a book or movie about my experiences, and honestly the way this movie used flashbacks did resonate with me.

I can understand how some might feel it's disjointed, but honestly that's sometimes how living with PTSD, depression, etc. Feels like.

I know some people complained that it's not funny, I guess I didn't expect it to be laugh out loud funny based on the description - it literally includes PTSD in the description and is called "I used to be funny" - i.e. She doesn't feel funny anymore.

Overall, I appreciated the storytelling.

Sam Cowell (Rachel Sennott) is a stand-up comic with some success who does a bit of work as a nanny. Her 14 year old former charge Brooke Renner (Olga Petsa) is declared missing and shows up smashing her door in anger. Two years earlier, Sam gets hired by Cameron Renner (Jason Jones) to watch his 12 year old daughter while his wife is sick in the hospital.

The first half is intriguing. The mystery of the incident keeps my interest. Once it's revealed, the movie goes into Lifetime territories. The one glaring problem is the aunt's presence. Sam would notify her at every step. The fact that she exists is an exit ramp for Sam to take. That diminishes the intensity of the story. If she doesn't exist, Brooke would be running away from a foster home. The police could be less than co-operative. Then Sam would feel like she's Brooke's only hope. That would raise the intensity of the second half. As for Olga Petsa, she's a little old to play a 12 year old. Brooke's young age is very important to her feelings. Otherwise, Sennott is excellent. I can see this story working, but it needs some changes.

I found the description of this movie to be deceptive. The story is about a former comedian where something happened that derailed her life.

The description says PSTD but what this trauma event is it not immediately revealed. The movie spends the three quarters of the time dancing around something having happened.

The dialog tries to be hip about teenage topics but it is mostly just cringe. No cap.

Much of the story is told as flash backs interweaved into the present so such it's never really clear when anything is occurring until several beats into a scene. I found this all irritating and bad story telling.

The movie eludes to what may have happened and while it's possible to guess, it's makes it all the worse that they don't just say it.

Everyone in the movie knows what happened but we are left out of being shared the details. Conversations about the event happen over and over to the point of becoming fraying, like an inside joke that no one will explain to you until you start to wonder if the pay off will be worth it.

It won't.

This fake tension is bad story telling. There is a missing child and the description creates a narrative that this is a big part of the movie but it's simply not. Our main character spends most of the movie unconcerned about the child's whereabouts. Its only purpose is to provide an ending to an otherwise meandering mess of a movie.

I think the movie 'Funny People' gave me PTSD for movies about comedians. I didn't enjoy that movie much at all and I think I was worried I was going to have a similar experience with 'I Used to be Funny'. That couldn't have been further from the case though. I was glued to the screen for every minute of this film.

Rachel Sennott has been one of the most interesting actresses to watch in recent years, but this film gave her the chance to prove she can truly act in a dramatic role. And she killed it. Also I had never heard of Caleb Hearon until this week and yet now I've seen him steal the show in two films. He has a lot of charm that man.

This is a heavy film. It's gritty and raw and quite devastating at times. I loved the structure of the film, with the intersecting timelines and the mystery around what exactly happened. I will say you have to have your wits about you at times to keep on track of which timeline you are actually in.

I really enjoyed this film. I'm quite surprised to be honest to see it with only a 6.3/10 on IMDb. I feel like I must've seen something in it that others didn't. I highly recommend this one though. 9/10.

Holy moly, guacamole, dude-this movie absolutely blew me away. Hands down, it's the most powerful and realistic portrayal of PTSD from rape and assault that I've ever seen. It doesn't shy away from the raw, gut-wrenching reality of trauma, and honestly, I felt every second of it. The flashbacks were intense, hitting me hard, but that only proves how well this film captured the experience. It wasn't just a story-it was a visceral, emotional journey.

Caleb was such a compelling side character, providing just the right balance of support without overshadowing the depth of the protagonist's struggle. And Rachel? She was beyond perfect for this role. She didn't just act-she became this character, making every emotion feel heartbreakingly real. I need to see more of them working together because their chemistry was undeniable, and they brought so much authenticity to the screen.

Movies like this are so important. They spark conversations, they validate survivors, and they don't sugarcoat the truth. I need more films like this-stories that don't just entertain but matter. Keep them coming.