A scene from ‘I Like Movies’

Review: ‘I Like Movies’ is about growth more than forgiveness

‘I Like Movies’ is about a film-obsessed teen who absentmindedly pushes everyone away to focus on his non-existent career.

Everyone has that friend who acts like they know everything about a particular topic, whether it’s film, comic books, wine or whatever other subject piqued their interest. Having conversations with them is generally difficult and occasionally exhausting because you rarely get to share your opinion and when you do, it simply allows them to expand on your point and further demonstrate their infinite wisdom. Unsurprisingly, those people sometimes find it difficult to maintain social relationships. In I Like Movies, a movie-obsessed teen finds his one-track mind doesn’t actually serve him well in the real world.

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, enacting their Saturday Night Live intros for no one but each other. 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, repeatedly highlighting his narcissism and lack of social graces. His father dying clearly had a significant impact on him, but the expiration date on that excuse is long past and if he’s going to make movies, he needs to learn how to really speak to people.

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. Though, at the end, he manages to become slightly more aware of those around him, allowing her a brief opportunity to breakthrough his ego. 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.

Director: Chandler Levack
Starring: Isaiah Lehtinen, Romina D’Ugo and Krista Bridges

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