What a sad title. And still, I Used To Be Funny is even more melancholy than you can possibly imagine. Thankfully, there’s a powerful performance and a mostly well constructed story to hold on to, but maybe watch this one on a Tuesday night at home, an hourish before bedtime so you can decompress and emotionally recover from the heaviest comedy set you’ve ever seen.
At the center of the whirlwind is Sam Cowell (Rachel Sennott), an on the rise stand-up comedian. After just exiting the shower, she sees Brooke Renner (Olga Petsa) a 14 year old, has been missing for 4 days. We then learn how Sam and Brooke know each other, as well as her present state living with overly supportive roommates Paige (Sabrina Jalees) and Philip (Caleb Hearon).
Through my intentional vagueness I hope you feel the dread creeping in. First time director Ally Pankiw does a really great job building that apprehension by weaving two indie dramedies together: a weepy family one and an offbeat introverted one. The stitching allows the story to unfold slowly, as we learn piece by piece what happened to present day Sam from past Sam. I left my phone on the table as the story sucked me in, with Brooke’s disappearance keeping me engaged so I wouldn’t immediately end up in the fetal position from the flashbacks. Because of how awful the truth is, I Used To Be Funny telegraphs the big reveal, probably the right decision. The movie pace quickens at the end to get us through those TOUGH moments, but loses a bit of that early intensity in favor of getting through it all, like Sam so desperately wants to.
By that point, Rachel Sennott’s presence has elevated above the bleak material. This is her character piece, a full showcase of what she can do. She’s proven for years now she can bring the comedy, but as the title suggests, she spends a large deal of this movie in the “un” part of her funny life, a new challenge. For the most part, Sennott rises to it, never better than in the scene directly in the aftermath of the big stuff. With no timecards to orient you, Rachel’s two different performances (and hairdos, obvi) of Sam let us know what timeline we’re in without struggling too much, a testament to how good Sennott is here. Shout out to Olga Petsa, Sabrina Jalees, Caleb Hearon, Ennis Esmer, and an eye opening Jason Jones to help give Sennott someone to interact with, where she shines brightest.
I hope you never “used to be funny.” EVER. But if you’re forced to because of what you see here, I hope you have a blueprint to rise from the ashes, and heal. It may be slow and filled with setbacks, but know that you have a Philip or Paige in your corner somewhere, rooting for you to overcome.