It Takes Three movie review

MOVIE TITLE: It Takes Three

Gunpowder & Sky releases this romantic comedy On Demand and Digital on September 3, 2021

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 30 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

IT TAKES THREE is a John Hughes spin on the classic Cyrano de Bergerac story! It feels like a 1980s teen movie, which is exactly what the director was going for, who was inspired by films like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and actually had an acting role in the movie!

SYNOPSIS: When the coolest guy in school discovers that the new girl sees through his popularity and good looks, he enlists the class nerd to take over his social media accounts to add substance to his style. Signals are crossed and hearts are broken, but in this postmodern rom-com nothing turns out exactly as you’d expect.

The rom-com is directed by Scott Coffey (Ellie Parker, Adult World) from a script by Blair Mastbaum and Logan Burdick, the film stars Jared Gilman (Moonrise Kingdom), Aurora Perrineau(“When They See Us”), Mikey Madison (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, Scream 5) and David Gridley (The DUFF).

THINGS I LIKED:

Jared Gilman plays the Cyrano de Bergerac character very well. His character’s name is, appropriately, Cy.
David Gridley does a great job at being a superficial douche.
I had never seen any of these young actors before even though they have appeared in other films. I was surprised I hadn’t noticed Aurora Perrineau because she’s really gorgeous with an exotic look and has a cool vibe that I’m sure will propel her in future films.
There is original music from some of the director’s favorite musicians like Dean Wareham and his bands Luna and Galaxy 500, Will Sheff and his band Okkervil River, Anya Marina (who also plays the hilarious principal of the high school), and Broken Social Scene.
Fun fact 1: the director welcomed collaboration from the cast, which I think is awesome.
Fun fact 2: The movie’s original title was “Rhino.” There’s a scene where a girl gives a guy a gift of a rhino because she says he kind of looks like one.
Blair Mastbaum co-wrote the movie but also has a role as a teacher in the film.
Keep watching during the rolling credits at the end for some goofy video clips that the leading characters post on their social media.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Some scenes last too long, like when the boy dances in his bedroom alone.
Someone gets locked in a garage. Really? It’s super easy to get out. There’s a latch on the inside, often a hanging rope, and probably a door button near the door to the house. But what the character does instead is pretty funny.
I was getting a real lesbian vibe from one of the teenage girls, so the twist at the end surprised me.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Crude conversations and gestures
Profanity and F-bombs
A girl flips the bird
Lesbian parents
Cleavage
Talk of gender bias
A teenage boy wants cosmetic surgery
Creepy internet pedophile is represented

THEMES:

Dating
Identity and physical appearance
Ego and self-centeredness
Authenticity
Friendship
Romance, crush, and chemistry
Truth
Trust
Intelligence
Commentary about social media
Commentary about feminism

FUNNY LINES:

“I’m sick or whatever excuse seems the most believable.” – Cy Berger (Jared Gilman)
“Dude, I can’t be myself anymore, alright? I told you. I’ve gotta be a cooc now.” – Chris Newton (David Gridley)
“I am a content creator and one day you will work for me.” – Blaze (Philip Labes)