I Used to Go Here

I Used to Go Here is a 2020 American comedy-drama film delivered with a unique blend of charm, wit, and sincerity. Directed by Kris Rey and starring a sensational cast headed up by Gillian Jacobs, Jemaine Clement and Josh Wiggins, this deeply engaging and intimate film takes us on a relatable journey of self-discovery, nostalgia and reflection on the complexities of early adulthood and all that comes with it.

The plot of I Used to Go Here orbits around the life of lead character Kate Conklin (Gillian Jacobs), a Chicago-based writer who is navigating her way through life's disappointments. Kate has recently published her debut novel which, to her dismay, failed to make substantial waves, and further, her engagement has been called off. Kate appears stuck in a painful and unfulfilling rut, feeling disheartened in her professional and personal life.

In the midst of these disappointments, she receives an unexpected invitation from David Kirkpatrick (Jemaine Clement), her former professor, inviting her to visit her alma mater to do a reading of her book and inspire aspiring writers. Taking this trip back in time, she returns to Carbondale, the small college town in Southern Illinois she had left behind years ago.

The film then follows Kate as she navigates her return to the place that was once so familiar but now feels disconcertingly different, a universally relatable feeling for many audiences. Through Kate, Jacobs delivers a commendable and realistic portrayal of a woman in her mid-thirties grappling with her expectations for her life versus the reality that she is facing.

Gillian Jacobs carries Kate's character with an organic authenticity, a kind of relatability that lets viewers tag along on her journey through previous friendships, old dormitories, attending house parties, and engaging with undergraduates. The characters she encounters along the way are equally compelling, from her unhappily married, pregnant friend (Hannah Marks), to an endearing group of undergraduate students residing in her old house.

The film's supporting characters offer an interesting counterpoint to Jacobs' Kate and bring a reflective and sometimes humorous take on the reality of early adulthood. Jemaine Clement plays the charming and slightly eccentric Professor Kirkpatrick who walks that fine line between inspiring and inappropriate. Josh Wiggins shines as Hugo, an aspiring writer in his final undergraduate year, teasing an undefined connection with Kate.

As Kate navigates these relationships and her own sense of self-discovery, the narrative beautifully highlights the undercurrent of nostalgia versus the changing realities of the world. It illustrates how revisiting the past can inspire a clearer vision of one's future. As Kate is forced to examine her own life, she comes to understand that even though life hasn't gone precisely how she envisioned, the beauty lies in its unpredictability. The narrative delicately interweaves humor and solemnity demonstrating how the past and present are continuously linked.

I Used to Go Here is a fine collaboration between Kris Rey's empathetic storytelling and the raw performances of its ensemble cast. It is a movie that strategically uses the comedy-drama genre to explore the relatable themes of early adulthood, unmet expectations, relationships, nostalgia and self-reflection.

Gillian Jacobs’ nuanced performance in the central role contributes largely to the overall emotional depth of the film. Her perfectly executed portrayal of common human disappointments and struggles grabs the viewer’s attention and keeps them engaged throughout the movie. Additionally, Clement and Wiggins offer wonderful supporting performances that add dimension and depth to the narrative.

Visually, the backdrop of Carbondale, richly captured by Nate Hurtsellers’ cinematography, adds to the film's nostalgic atmosphere, aligning itself as a character in the movie - an integral part of Kate's journey back to the past and forwards to her future.

In the end, I Used to Go Here is a charming coming-of-age drama that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt lost or stuck. It has a heartfelt, resonant storyline, wonderfully dynamic characters, and an insistent baseline of humor that makes it a relatable, poignant and nuanced film. It's not about monumental moments of change but about those smaller, subtle shifts that move us forward in life.