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.

IUTBF is a tough movie to love. I guess you would have to live in the disillusioned LA Gen Z bubble to understand any of the characters or their motivations. Cinema is best defined as an empathy creating machine but this movie made me feel nothing.

The issue is mostly the awkward, stilted conversations in the screenplay. The opaque plot doesn't help. The flashback scenes provide some drama but also make the whole film seem like a Greek tragedy.

The direction is actually fairly effective, the acting, however, is not. Some of the characters will be grating to a 'normal' audience. Hence the need for the bubble.

I never thought that a movie about a stand up comic could be so laugh free.

I USED TO BE FUNNY is an above-average mumblecore offering starring Rachel Sennott. Considering how quickly Rachel Sennott has blown up since the confusingly popular BOTTOMS has come out, it almost feels like she owed someone a favor doing this movie. While the movie mostly feels marketed as a comedy, the film itself primarily exists in the realm of heavy-handed drama, and when they do try to infuse comedy, it rarely lands. While the plot is pretty unique and ambitious for this kind of film, it also somehow felt a bit misdirected. On that note, there are certain movies (and often books) that you can consume where you feel almost certain that this story is primarily just something that its writer straight up went through and decided to turn into a feature length media offering - this is 100% one of those movies. My gut tells me that the writer simply went through all of this herself, and decided to tell the story, perhaps primarily because the combination of things feels so specific that it doesn't seem like someone would pair these two themes together any other way, namely the standup comedy details with the nannying plot points. The subject matter isn't interesting enough for someone to focus on without having been through it in reality, I feel, and sadly, it's not quite interesting enough as a movie either. While Sennott's performance is the strongest thing about the entire movie, with it being as dynamic and enjoyable as hers generally are, it doesn't fulfill in many other ways in the end - the only other thing I really found enjoyable in the end was its ambition. Worth watching once for (divine lordess) Sennott fans - not sure who else.

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.