Never Goin' Back

There really aren't enough stoner buddy female movies and this one was great. I love the girls' personalities and both actresses nailed it. It's frustrating that all these types of characters are usually written for men so it's refreshing to see women break out of the norm.

These two actresses are so natural in these roles its like I am watching a few days in their life rather than a film. Dazed and Confused was my era and I find the differences in both the Music and Culture really interesting. While much has changed from the 70's, much stays the same. Because I teach this age group and could write a book of my observations of a generation which at times seems muddled and lacking in any direction, its films like this that gives better insight into the same quest of every generation... looking for that elusive "unicorn" that Jessie seems to be willing to trip to see but as you come to find out you don't have to go down the rabbit hole to get there

"Never Goin' Back" (2018 release; 85 min.) brings the (mis)adventures of Angela and Jessie. As the movie opens, Angela has a surprise for Jessie: for Jessie's 17th birthday next week, Angela has bought them a stay in Galveston. "How did you pay for it?", asks Jessie. "I used the rent money", confesses Angela. But the girls can make up for the shortfall if they do all the shifts that week as waitresses. Ala, things don't go quite as planned... At this point we're less than 10 min. into the movie, but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: the movie is written and directed by Augustine Frizzell, better known for her acting. This is her feature-length directing debut. Here she brings us the story of these two BFFs who are high-school drop-outs, and share a small apartment with Jessie's brother and a buddy of his. From all the looks and feels of it, they are all losers. But take a closer look, and instead you'll see two teenagers who are at the doorsteps of adulthood, and for whom anything is possible still. We never find out anything about either's parents or other clues as to how they got to where they are now. Beware, there are some very crude scenes in the film, so if that is not your kind of humor, better stay away from this film. I thought there were some truly hilarious scenes. "Dude, I puked him to death!" (comment from one of the girls when she accidentally throws up on someone) is an instant classic line. The best sequence in the film comes when the girls accidentally eat spiked cookies and end up high as a kite just before they need to be at work. Hilarity ensues.... just watch! The two leads (Australian actress Maia Mitchell as Angela and Camila Morrone as Jessie) are charming and have obvious screen chemistry. Last but not least, there is tons of great music in the film, both as the the original score (courtesy of singer Sarah Jaffe) and the many song placements in the film.

"Never Goin' Back" premiered at this year's Sundance film festival to good acclaim. It finally reached my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati this weekend, The Saturday matinee screening where I saw this at was attended dismally (3 people, including myself). Probably the picture-perfect weather outside had something to do with it. Regardless, if you are in the mood for a truly indie film about the lives and times of two teenagers on the verge of adulthood, I'd encourage you to check this out, be it in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.

I wouldn't say its an original piece or that its a real gem or something like that , but i must say that i really enjoyed this film . It doesn't have a cheap stupid puns and it somehow provides a sense of an adventure , makes me feel good when i see that you can still make a decent comedy without stupid jokes and naked bodies. Its a good movie for a beer and a snack , i really recommend it for everyone.

Overall fairly good go nowhere flick about 2 chicks trying to make rent. Stoner humor but well done for the most part. Found the characters enjoyable enough to get through it. There is nothing new here but it's a decently told story about nothing important.