Someone Great is the surprise of the year so far for me. Fascinating, compelling, and fun, this story of a night in New York City is something I’m geared to despise because of previous self-indulgent stories about similar subjects. Instead, writer/director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson takes two traditional movie genres, the romcom and “one crazy night” movie, and merges them to in a way that comes off lovely and modern.
Someone Great’s story is pretty simple. Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) and Nate (Lakeith Stanfield) are a couple that found each other in college and grew up together in New York City. Things are about to change though: Jenny just landed a big job in San Francisco with Rolling Stone Magazine. This life change and growing distance pushes Nate to break up with Jenny right after she gets the news. Despondent, she reaches out to her 2 best friends Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow) to help get her through her feelings. Jenny has a great idea before she leaves for San Francisco: her, Erin, and Blair will attend the Neon Classic, a concert they attended a lot in their younger days.
It’s clear to me that Someone Great was written by a real person who has experienced heartbreak after a long term relationship. When you’re with a person as long as Jenny is with Nate in New York, everything around you can trigger a memory of that person. What the script smartly does it is has these moments happen seemingly randomly: a song, a restaurant, a walk through a park, etc, which allows Jennifer Robinson not only to flesh out the Jenny/Nate relationship, but it also gives you a clear understanding of Jenny’s state of mind. Also, honestly, this movie shows that all the ups and downs of the relationship. Jenny will end up exuberant after some fonder memories, and saddened at others. So when we’re navigating New York City as Jenny prepares for the concert with her friends, we completely understand how she is feeling, and what a complex series of emotions she’s going through. No spoilers, but where this part of the story goes is also a delightful change of pace from your normal romcom/one night fare. That must be it: Jennifer Robinson = Gina Rodriguez’s Jenny.
You know what’s also refreshing? A group of friends who actually appear to be friends with one another, instead of that BS My Best Friend’s Wedding or 13 Going on 30 are trying to peddle. Though rushed and pushed to the B stories, Blair and Erin have their own personal changes confronting them in the face. Blair’s in a long term relationship she’s outgrown, and Erin has a girlfriend she really likes, but is wandering into uncharted “I Love You” waters. Each of the 3 friends, while going through their own stuff, use the other two to bounce off for advice, console when their down, or dance with to have a blast. As much as this movie dives deep into the Jenny and Nate’s relationship, the true beating heart of this story is how Jenny, Erin, and Blair represent one of those friendships you hope you and your friends aspire to, because of the joy, empathy, and honesty the three of them have reached as a trio.
I realize that not all of Erin, Blair, and Jenny’s nights all end up like this, but because of how awesome it was to experience, Gina Rodriguez, DeWanda Wise, and Brittany Snow together, Jennifer Robinson might be the Someone Great referenced in the title. Her movie is a loving reminder of (especially female, but in general) friendship, and how navigating constant change is easier if someone is in your corner. You could say, have Someone Great is something great.