Movie Review: I Want You Back

The film oozes charm. The two mains, Emma and Peter, played by Jenny Slate and Charlie Day, have so much organic chemistry. I think it’s brilliant casting. It’s not the kind that slaps you in the face, no. Instead, it’s the kind that grows on you; arguably the best kind.

Amazon Prime’s’ I Want You Back is the perfect rom-com and I’ll tell you why. 

As a typical rom-com fan, I like to keep up to date with the going-ons in the rom-com world, including new movies, especially ones that get glowing reviews from some of my favorite pop culture tweeps.

In my quest to remain current, I watched the film too, and I was not disappointed. 

Directed by Jason Orley, I Want You Back is absolutely hilarious!

It’s a story about two strangers who get dumped by their respective partners and team up to try and win them back but who end up finding themselves instead. It was everything your typical rom-com is – funny, a little awkward, and very very wholesome. It’s of the ‘OG‘ amazing romcom calibre, that early and mid 00’s flavor. I’m talking Maid in Manhattan, Bridget Jones’ Diary‘ and 50 First Dates, you know the type. And yet it still has the particular je ne sais quoi of a 2020’s film.

I absolutely loved it!

The film oozes charm. The two mains, Emma and Peter, played by Jenny Slate and Charlie Day, have so much organic chemistry. I think it’s brilliant casting. It’s not the kind that slaps you in the face, no. Instead, it’s the kind that grows on you; arguably the best kind. Peter is this adorable, chivalrous, slightly weird cutie and Emma is just perfect – a little bit awkward but so, so sweet. It is so on-brand for good rom-com leads. 

I Want You Back has the perhaps ridiculous makings of a great rom-com – a music break, a very corny (but insanely sweet) inside joke, and the resident heartthrobs as well; Manny Jacinto and Scott Eastwood, (you beautiful, beautiful men). I finished the film thinking that maybe, just maybe, the romcom recipes that I once thought were lost were not quite so lost after all. It was refreshing, and I LOL’d many times in real life. 

The best part for me is, of course, the conflict between Emma and Peter. You know the crushing disappointment when one person likes the other, and the other doesn’t know it yet, or knows but is conveniently refusing to see? It’s brilliant. But don’t just take my word for it. With an apt 87% score on the Rotten Tomatoes scale, I’m clearly not the only one who thinks this is a great film. 

The ending is very appropriate as well. It’s the ideal rom-com ending, cringe-worthy but so adorable you can’t help but watch and feel pleased for the characters. This is a film that is just sublime!

If you’re a fan of romcoms that will have you belly-laughing, like me, then this is for you.