I Used to Go Here

I Used to Go Here is a 2020 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Kris Rey. It stars Gillian Jacobs, Josh Wiggins, Hannah Marks, Forrest Goodluck, Jorma Taccone, Kate Micucci, Zoë Chao and Jemaine Clement.

I Used to Go Here
Official poster
Directed byKris Rey
Produced by
Written byKris Rey
Starring
Music byCurtis Heath
CinematographyNate Hurtsellers
Edited byZach Clark
Production
companies
Distributed byGravitas Ventures
Release date
  • August 7, 2020 (2020-08-07) (United States)
Running time
86 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The film stars Jacobs as novelist Kate Conklin who returns to her alma mater 15 years after graduating.

It was released to video on demand platforms and select theatres on August 7, 2020, by Gravitas Ventures. It premiered on HBO Max in December, 2020. [2]

Plot

Kate Conklin's marriage engagement collapses at the same time as the tour for her debut novel is cancelled due to poor sales. Shortly after Kate receives an offer to speak at her alma mater, fictitious Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois (site of the real-life Southern Illinois University), by her former professor David Kirkpatrick.

Returning to Carbondale, Kate is surprised to be situated at a bed and breakfast across from the former house she lived in while at university. She meets the current occupants, three boys named Hugo, Tall Brandon and Animal who allow her to visit her former room.

After a successful reading of her novel Kate is offered a teaching position by Kirkpatrick and mulls the decision over during the rest of her time in Carbondale.

Walking home late one night and finding herself locked out of her B&B, Kate stumbles onto a party being held at her former house, which she had dubbed the "writer's retreat". While there, she receives a text message from her former fiancé asking to cut off contact. Animal and his girlfriend end up comforting Kate and allowing her to stay over at their house.

The following day, while consulting with writing students in a coffee shop, Kate discusses April's work with her. April is Hugo's girlfriend and a rising star in the English department. While trying to give April professional advice to make her writing more marketable she is surprised to have her suggestions shot down and to be informed that April intends to start her own press.

Returning to her former residence, Kate learns that April has dumped Hugo, and the others suspect that she was cheating with professor Kirkpatrick. Kate, Hugo, and two others decide to go to Kirkpatrick's house to verify the cheating. They walk in on April and Kirkpatrick in bed together though he later reveals to Kate that he and his wife have an open marriage. Disappointed by his actions Kate also realizes that Kirkpatrick never read her book and declines the teaching position he offered her.

Returning to her former home Hugo offers to let Kate stay in his room, her former room. He comforts her about her writing and the two have sex.

Leaving the following morning, Kate encounters April and apologizes to her for not encouraging her work, admitting that she let her own feelings of failure and her jealousy get in the way of helping April.

On the drive back home Kate's driver tells her he read and loved the book. Kate admits she could have done better.

Cast

Production

In August 2019, it was announced Gillian Jacobs, Jemaine Clement, Hannah Marks, Forrest Goodluck, Josh Wiggins, Kate Micucci, Jorma Taccone and Zoë Chao had joined the cast of the film, with Kris Rey directing from a screenplay she wrote.[3]

Release

It was scheduled to have its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 14, 2020.[4] However, the festival was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.[5] Shortly after, Gravitas Ventures acquired distribution rights to the film and set it for an August 7, 2020.[6]

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 85% based on 72 reviews, with an average rating of 6.81/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Elevated significantly by Gillian Jacobs' central performance, I Used to Go Here tells a familiar story with considerable charm."[7] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 68 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[8]

The A.V. Club's Katie Rife gave the film a B, noting Jacobs' performance and smart joke writing as key strengths, with some unevenness in tone that does not match all of Rey's strengths.[9]

References
  1. "I Use To Go Here". South by Southwest. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  2. Hersko, Tyler (July 8, 2020). "'I Used to Go Here' Exclusive Trailer: Gillian Jacobs Leads Kris Rey's SXSW Comedy Gem". IndieWire. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  3. Wiseman, Andreas (August 28, 2019). "Gillian Jacobs & Jemaine Clement Lead Cast In Kris Rey Comedy 'I Used To Go Here', Myriad Launches Sales — Toronto". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  4. Ray-Ramos, Dino (January 15, 2020). "SXSW Sets Judd Apatow's 'The King Of Staten Island' As Opening-Night Film, Unveils Features And Episodics Lineups". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  5. "City of Austin Cancels SXSW March Events". South by Southwest. March 6, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  6. N’Duka, Amanda (June 18, 2020). "Gravitas Nabs SXSW Comedy 'I Used to Go Here' Starring Gillian Jacobs & Jemaine Clement". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  7. "I Used to Go Here (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  8. "I Used To Go Here Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  9. Rife, Katie (August 7, 2020). "Gillian Jacobs and Jemaine Clement Take a Nostalgia Trip in the Good-Natured I Used to Go Here". The A. V. Club. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
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