TIFF ’22 Review: ‘I Like Movies’ understands why you don’t like its protagonist
‘I Like Movies’ focuses on a socially-inept teen on the brink of graduation who is so obsessed with film, he’s losing touch with the real world around him.
To say Lawrence (Isaiah Lehtinen) likes movies would be an understatement. They’re pretty much all he thinks about, day and night. When he goes to the Ontario suburb’s local video store, Sequels, to rent a film, he can’t help but handout unsolicited recommendations to its patrons. Therefore, it’s not surprising he regularly applies for a job there and is finally hired by the manager, Alana (Romina D’Ugo), who is taken by his enthusiasm – though he didn’t anticipate the actual work involved as he planned his free weekly rentals. At his Burlington high school, he and his best friend, Matt (Percy Hynes White), have been tasked with creating their graduating class’ year-end video, but Lawrence’s auteur ambitions are delaying the final product. With his sights firmly set on NYU Film School, Lawrence proceeds to alienate everyone in his life, never considering the trail of hurt feelings he’s leaving in his wake.
Lawrence is a difficult character to like, which is undoubtedly intentional since it’s challenging for him to get along with almost everyone in the movie, including his mother (Krista Bridges). He regularly nerds out with Matt, but when Lawrence makes a hurtful admission, he can’t understand why Matt would no longer want to hang out. This pattern repeats itself with the few other characters actually willing to carry a conversation with Lawrence. Lehtinen plays his role to perfection, annoying everyone on- and off-screen with his complete lack of interest in the world outside himself and movies. Complementing his performance is D’Ugo’s Alana, who sees something in Lawrence she wants to nurture, but can’t overcome his self-centredness in spite of her best efforts to connect with him. Finally, Bridges is excellent as a mother who struggles to be there for a son who she can’t always understand and doesn’t always like.
I Like Movies had its world premiere in the Discovery programme at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Read other reviews from the festival and stay tuned for the full review later this year.
Director: Chandler Levack
Starring: Isaiah Lehtinen, Romina D’Ugo and Krista Bridges
