From “I Like Movies” you might expect another movie industry insider’s love letter to other filmmakers. Instead, we get a simultaneously funny and sad coming-of-age story. One that also takes a jab at Shrek.

Brief Plot

Awkward and somewhat crude seventeen-year-old movie buff Lawrence (Isaiah Lehtinen) dreams of getting into New York University to one day touch the world of cinema himself. However, his mother (Krista Bridges) can’t afford to pay for her son’s education abroad.

So Lawrence decides to take his fate into his own hands and gets a job at a video rental store, where manager Alana (Romina D’Ugo) takes him under her wing. Lawrence must figure out what he wants in life and whether it’s worth jeopardizing his long-time friendship with Matt (Percy Hynes White) and his mental health.

“I Like Movies” Isn’t About Movies

You’d think this would be another inside-baseball story for film buffs. A tale about a boy who dreamed and strived for his dream — sounds very familiar. However, the film surprises by focusing on completely different things.

Here, the spotlight is on human relationships. Sometimes simple, sometimes very complex, but always very relatable. The attempts to figure out if the friendship before you is real or just a way to kill time until college. The uncertainty of whether your boss genuinely cares or is just doing their job.

Of course, there are conversations about movies here, and they’re very funny. Moreover, “I Like Movies” doesn’t exploit them as heavily as one might expect given the setting.

From the author: I disagree with the recommendation of the film “Happiness” as a good comedy for co-viewing — yes, it’s great, but very specific in its morality. And I condemn the unflattering comments towards Shrek. I hope it’s just the main character’s opinion.

Dream Team

A very big positive aspect of the film is the team that worked on “I Like Movies”.

First and foremost, it’s screenwriter and director Chandler Levack. By her own admission, Chandler made the main character male because she wanted to prove that women can write good male characters at the center of a story.

And Lawrence turned out to be a truly interesting character. Often rude, sometimes unpleasant, completely intolerant — but very touching and intriguing. Despite all his flaws, you genuinely root for Lawrence. And here, actor Isaiah Lehtinen deserves a lot of credit; he looks very organic in this role.

Canadian Hinterland

In fact, “I Like Movies” is a very intimate film, even though its action isn’t confined to one room or one location.

Even though Lawrence considers American culture the most interesting (staying up late watching Saturday Night Live every week or considering <strong>“</strong>Love, Liza<strong>”</strong> the best film), the movie still turned out to be incredibly Canadian.

Ivan Kilyakov

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Open material

Burlington — a small town near Toronto — and its atmosphere brilliantly underscores Lawrence’s desire to leave for America and become something more than just a “Canadian filmmaker”.

Humans Are Social Animals

It is precisely the emphasis on human relationships that is the film’s main achievement — but also its main drawback.

The complicated friendship that develops between manager Alana and Lawrence, who is crazy about movies but completely unable to sell what he doesn’t like, is portrayed here in a highly engaging way. However, if you don’t connect with it, the film is lost on you.

It is through this friendship that not only the characters are revealed, but also the themes Chandler Levack wanted to raise. About how young people worry about their future. About what it’s like to be a woman in a male-dominated business. About how to be likable, after all.

And, it seems, the main theme is about taking responsibility for yourself and your actions, without blaming external factors.

Verdict

“I Like Movies” might feel a bit drawn out or boring. It all depends on whether you connect with Lawrence’s character during the viewing or not.

Because if the teenager who considers films the cornerstone of the universe seems like an insufferable snob to you — then you definitely won’t appreciate the film.

But if you see in the main character a fundamentally decent young person at a crossroads in life — then this dramedy will undoubtedly work for you.