I Want You Back Review

Directed By: Jason Orley
Written By: Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger
Runtime: 114 minutes
MPA Rating: Rated R

Charlie Day – Peter
Jenny Slate – Emma
Gina Rodriguez – Anne
Scott Eastwood – Noah
Manny Jacinto – Logan
Clark Backo – Ginny

The new romcom, I Want You Back, arrives on Amazon Prime Video this week just in time for Valentine’s Day. The new film, headlined by Charlie Day and Jenny Slate, has a rather average script, but a charming pair of leads make this a fairly decent viewing experience.

I Want You Back follows the recently dumped retirement home executive, Peter (Charlie Day) and orthodontics receptionist Emma (Jenny Slate). Peter is dumped by his longtime girlfriend, Anne (Rodriguez), and Emma gets dumped by her type-A physical trainer boyfriend, Noah (Eastwood). Both Anne and Noah quickly start dating younger, more exciting significant others. Since Peter and Emma work in the same building, they soon form an unlikely friendship and bond over their shared breakup grief.

Desperate to somehow get back together with their exes, Peter and Emma collaborate and hatch plans to break up Anne from her new drama teacher boyfriend, Logan (Jacinto), and Noah from his pie shop baker Ginny (Backo). Through their shared bonding, Peter and Emma are too oblivious to come to their senses that they are perfect for each other.

The general premise and setup for this film are fairly basic and paint-by-numbers. However, once the plot brings Peter and Emma together, Day and Slate pick things up with their natural chemistry and awkward charisma. They remarkably pair well together as romantic leads.

Orley’s film wisely centers the plot around Peter and Emma, who through their machinations are too oblivious to realize how well they go together. Their exes aren’t even bad people, and it’s Peter and Emma who are committing a grave sin in trying to sabotage their former spouses’ relationships. It’s a narrative that easily could have gone off the deep end and likely can only work in a movie, but Orley manages to pull it off.

The film has a light pace to it, and it doesn’t try too hard to earn laughs. There are surprising emotional moments that are peppered throughout the runtime as well. It doesn’t dwell on these moments too heavily, but there’s a light, dramatic touch.

What does work well about co-writers Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger’s script is that is wisely focuses on Peter and Emma and in making their post-relationship grief empathetic. Peter and Emma are horrendously in the wrong for not accepting their relationships were on the rocks, but the film does not excuse their actions. Peter and Emma are flawed individuals who are simply struggling in their grief for what they perceive as lost love, and Day and Slate make the material fairly believable.

The film’s humor does not force itself in attempts to be hip or modern. Also, while the comic material is mildly adult, I Want You Back doesn’t constantly attempt cheap, low-brow, raunchy, or gross-out humor. This is by no means a top 10 or even top 50 comedy, but there are some genuine laughs.

That said, there are more than some script contrivances, such as Emma volunteering to work on a middle school drama production to get closer to Logan and Anne. Jenny Slate singing a rendition of “Suddenly Seymour” from Little Shop of Horrors, impressive as it is, is odd considering Slate is wearing the costume intended for a middle schooler in a middle school production.

I Want You Back is not a groundbreaking, top-of-the-line rom-com, but it’s easy viewing for a night in with a significant other or a rom-com Valentine’s Day weekend binge marathon. The general premise is rather pedestrian, but Slate and Day make it decently enjoyable, sell the material like champs and display solid chemistry.

6.5

The final score: review Average

The 411

As far as romantic comedies go, I Want You Back is a decent experience. Charlie Day and Jenny Slate are solid comedic leads, and they pair well together here. The major turning points are rather predictable, but director Jason Orley does well in centering the plot around two great actors and talented comedians. The film also displays a decent amount of dramatic heft. This isn't a mind-blowing romantic comedy, but it's solid enough to check out for a couples-friendly viewing experience. I Want You Back is worth a look for traditional rom-com fans.