I Want You Back - A Movie Review

Being in love is complicated.

I Want You Back is a 2022 film. Emma and Peter are dumped. The duo team up to sabotage their exes' new relationships and get back together. It turns out their sabotage plans become a transformative journey.

I was asking myself, “How come I didn’t watch this movie sooner?” throughout the first half of I Want You Back. That was when a heartfelt story about change became an overly long film with repetitive and strange scenes. On a positive note, I Want You Back delivers a worthwhile message about taking risks.

Charlie Day and Jenny Slate were cast right for the roles of Emma and Peter. Charlie Day and Jenny Slate have a similar dynamic to Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza. The pair, or the ‘Sadness Sisters,’ are a natural together. I wonder how much they improvised. While their ‘breakup exes’ plan doesn’t go accordingly, their responses are interesting to note.

All you have to say is ‘Jenny Slate’ and I’ll watch the movie. I have come to love Slate. I had no idea she could sing either! Slate is a genuinely funny person, and she does a fantastic job of playing characters who evolve. Emma’s growth is inspiring. Being alone helps Emma deal with issues that she was avoiding.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Charlie Day plays Peter. Day is also funny, but Peter becomes too selfish. After being told that he lacks ambition, Peter gets into his head too much. He gloats about his victories and doesn’t make an effort to think for himself.

Scott Eastwood (Noah) and Gina Rodriguez (Anne) play Emma and Peter’s exes. As Noah improves Peter’s physical exercise, Emma learns all about the theater world with Anne. Noah and Anne are not the villains of the story, and each has human flaws.

The quad are not the only characters in the film’s supporting cast. Credits include Manny Jacinto, Clark Backo, Luke David Blumm, and Giselle Tores. There’s also one scene with Pete Davidson.

One subplot that’s left unresolved is Emma’s friendship with Trevor (Blumm), a troubled middle schooler. Emma helps Logan with his own problems, but then disappears from the story. I liked this friendship.

Director Jason Orley mixed humor with finding heart in relatable human situations. It was his goal to make a film about relationships that didn’t work out for the better. According to interviews, he finds breakups a relatable plotline for audiences.

Orley hit two challenges during filming? How grappled with how audiences are supposed to like Noah right after the breakup and getting the rights to Little Shop of Horrors. This was a delightful surprise for me! I love theater, and this is one of my favorite shows. It has a similar message about finding healthy relationships.

He had creative edits and style with I Want You Back, but what happened to the middle half? The film loses its momentum in its middle portion. What begins as a clever scheme that changes characters' opinions turns into repetitive jokes and a cringy menage a twas scene that does not belong in this movie. Said scene is very uncomfortable to watch.

By ignoring the middle half, I Want You Back is a wake-up call about being true to yourself, both in relationships and to yourself. It emphasized the importance of doing your best on your own. I wish the film had reached this message sooner. Films that encourage self-reliance and independence are rare.

It’s still a good movie, though it could have been trimmed. Find I Want You Back on Prime.