I Used to be Funny

🎬 Movie Review: I Used to Be Funny (2023) ⭐ Honest Thoughts. No Sugarcoating. Whenever I watch a film that gets sky-high scores from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, I get intrigued. I check the audience score, I look at the buzz, and I think, “Alright, this must be something special.” But more often than not, especially with movies like I Used to Be Funny, I’m left wondering: Who are these critics really writing for? Let me be real — because that’s what I do. I’m not here to dance around the truth or boost up a movie just because it got praised by some artsy circle. I’m here to judge films fairly, the same way I would if I were picking Oscar winners — and most of the time, let’s be honest, the Academy doesn’t exactly reflect what the public loves. This movie? It was poorly written. The script was overloaded with dialogue — and not in a clever, character-driven way. It was excessive, flat, and lacked rhythm. It felt like anyone could’ve scribbled this out in a notebook over a weekend. There was no tension, no spark, no visual storytelling. Just endless scenes that dragged on with people talking, talking, talking — and saying nothing meaningful. The story had no real hook. No creativity. No emotional core to hold on to. It was supposed to follow this girl’s life, but it never gave us a reason to care about her. Nothing about the structure or pacing felt cinematic — it felt like a rough draft that someone decided to shoot anyway. So, no — I don’t care if critics said this was a masterpiece. It wasn’t. We’ve got to stop pretending that something is brilliant just because it’s “different” or “deep.” Being vague and overly talky isn’t the same as being powerful or profound. 👉 Bottom line: This movie was boring, uneventful, and painfully overwritten. Let’s stop giving out gold stars just to impress other critics. Let’s be honest about what works — and what doesn’t.

This has to be the most non humorous movie about a comedienne ever made. The central message seems to be "we're lesbians because men are awful "

Awsomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

This movie was so underwhelming and boring. Everyone was raving about it so I tried it and the plotline was so boring. I understand the deeper meaning, but it was so dragged out and just spent the entire movie conveying how miserable the main character is without getting to the point. Wouldn't even recommend to my dog.

I spent literally 4 days to finish this movie. They tried to give suspense to what happened but It was always too obvious. The only acting I liked was Brooke’s character.

popped up on my netflix recommended and it’s genuinely one of the best movies i’ve ever seen. cried 3 different times. cannot believe it’s not more popular

I Used to Be Funny is a dark and deliberate drama. It's a fascinating watch with many fine attributes. The film is told mainly in flashback as we follow stand up comedian Sam in Toronto. She is presently struggling with life and as the film goes along we find out why. She had previously become a nanny to 12 year old Brooke and they form a very strong relationship. In the present though Brooke has run away and is upset with Sam. The film flips back and forth and we see eventually what occurs and what causes the rift. This film is exceedingly well written and well acted. Especially great is Rachel Sennott in the lead role, proving she can be more than just comedic. A very fine film with subtlety and strong emotion.

**Review: "I Used to Be Funny" (3/5)** So, I gave *I Used to Be Funny* a shot after a recommendation, and it was... fine. The bond between Sam and Brooke is hands down the best part—it feels so real and heartfelt. The film nails the gritty reality of stand-up comedy for beginners—no glam, just awkward gigs and grind. The acting? Incredible. Seriously, the cast gave it their all. But the heavy subjects, like PTSD and sexual assault, didn’t hit as hard as they could’ve. I’ve seen other movies tackle these themes with more depth and originality. The time jumps were also confusing—took me a bit to figure out where we were in the story. It started strong, but halfway through, it felt lazy and predictable. And the ending? Everything wrapped up way too fast to feel believable. Not bad, but not groundbreaking either. Worth a watch, but don’t expect too much.

I am really suprised at the negative reviews of this movie. I imagine that people who didn't find any of the jokes funny just don't enjoy millenial/gen-z humor. I found all the performances very well done, the writing interesting and I didn't find the plot hard to follow at all. If you found the plot hard to follow I assume you must not watch many movies, its a very common plot device. All the small details of the movie were very well done and showed the mental states of the characters well. Sam wearing her tailored coat with a disheveled outfit underneath, showing who she used to be and who she is currently. Brooke copying Sam and wearing hoop earrings was also cute and showed how much she revered her. Watch it on Netflix!

It’s well-structured, leading to a moment that makes Sennott’s anxious performance both impactful and appropriate, while also embracing its humor.