Film: I Want You Back (2022)
Plot: Newly dumped thirty-somethings Peter and Emma team up to sabotage their exes’ new relationships and win them back for good.
Cast: Charlie Day, Jenny Slate, Scott Eastwood, Gina Rodriguez, Manny Jacinto, and Clark Backo
Director: Jason Orley
Release Date: February 11, 2022
Studio: Amazon Studios
HCA Overall Grade: B+
Tessa Smith says “An absolutely hilarious and heartfelt comedy. A feel-good movie that is a joy to watch from beginning to end. It has one of the best endings in a rom-com that I have seen in a while. Charlie Day and Jenny Slate have great on-screen chemistry.”
Grade: A-
Joel D. Amos says “I Want You Back was a breath of fresh air in the romantic comedy milieu when audiences who favor that genre have seen it all. Jenny Slate is a revelation and Charlie Day is the most unlikely but undeniably appealing leading man with a sense of humor that increases his attractiveness exponentially. In a landscaped filled with modern romantic comedies, I Want You Back delivers on its promise to deliver something new, fresh, and above all else, heartwarming and entertaining.”
Grade: B+
Jeandra LeBeauf says “A clever and fun take on unexpected breakups and the lengths broken-hearted people will go to get someone back. The modern rom-com invokes nostalgia with its straightforward approach to dating instead of relying on social media. Well performed, funny, and all-around a good time.”
Grade: B+
Stacey Yvonne says “I Want You Back’ introduces a new look at the modern rom-com. Jenny Slate and Charlie Day produce funny and touching performances and the film features an effortlessly diverse cast. It’s a feel-good film that goes down easy and will leave you smiling at the end.”
Grade: B+
Kiyra Lynn says, “From the writers of This Is Us and Love, Simon, this is an outside-of-the-box take on a rom-com. When you take cringe-worthy situations coupled with heartfelt moments, that is where the magic happens. Charlie Day and Jenny Slate head the cast, and they do a brilliant job as the desperate duo trying to win back their lost loves-of-their-lives. A great film to lose yourself in for a few hours should you need some laughter in your life.”
Grade: B+
Lupe Haas says “Jenny Slate and Charlie Day make a great comedy duo but it’s Slate who steals the show with her deadpan humor. Scott Eastwood is a nice surprise in his comedy debut.”
Grade: B
John Nguyen says, “I Want You Back is a fun-loving romcom with the amusing Charlie Day and Jenny Slate. There are comical hijinks, and Scott Eastwood is that person you want to have a drink with. The trailer makes the film look predictable, but there were some pleasant surprises.”
Grade: B
Anthony Digioia says, “A charming rom-com with a modern-day vibe that delivers consistent laughs with a sweet emotional undercurrent. Slate and Day are a delightfully flawed duo and watching them bumble through their love life is an appealing blend of recycled and fresh for the genre. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, yet it can easily provide an engaging couple hours with a movie.”
Grade: B