Known for her work on television shows such as Feel Good, The Great, and Shrill, writer and director Ally Pankiw has shifted to the big screen for her feature debut, I Used to be Funny. Set in Toronto, the comedy drama centres around twenty-something au pair and stand-up performer Sam (Rachel Sennott) who is suffering from PTSD and depression. When Brooke (Olga Petsa), the teenager she used to nanny goes missing, she takes it upon herself to track her down, and in doing so she revisits her trauma.
Shot with a naturalistic approach akin to the mumblecore movement of indie cinema, Pankiw’s unfiltered lens presents a compelling character study of the downtrodden protagonist. Sardonic and self-deprecating as a lot of satirical comedians are, Sam uses dark humour as a coping mechanism to shield her from her increasing zillenial dread as she isolates herself from her friends. Her personality feels authentic in the well observed writing, not only in the frank exploration of her mental decline but in the sharp social commentary around her, highlighting cruel micro-aggressions and the generational divide in attitudes between the story’s main characters.
Coming from her own background in the comedy scene, lead actor Rachel Sennott has enjoyed a run of appearances in Shiva Baby, Bodies Bodies Bodies, and Bottoms, but it is interesting to see her take on a slightly less exaggerated role in this. She is perfectly cast, and Pankiw’s effective use of flashbacks in the narrative really emphasise the depth of the performance, offering up subtle thriller elements in the unravelling of the plot. The supporting cast provide great backup to the central portrayal, bringing out the various aspects of Sam’s character in their interactions; in particular, Jason Jones impresses as her employer Cameron, father of the missing teen.
Harrowing and often hard-hitting but not without its own black sense of humour, writer and director Ally Pankiw tackles the tough topics within I Used to be Funny with an admirably deft touch. It is an astute showcase of Rachel Sennott’s range as an actor, proving that not only does she have fantastic comic chops but that she can do the serious material too.
Cinema Perspective 