Reunion movie review by Movie Review Mom

Movie Review: Reunion

This comedy by Medias Res has an upcoming premiere in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hills Film Festival on April 16 at the famous TCL Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood.

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hour 45 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B+

IN A NUTSHELL:

A group of former high school classmates gathers for their 20-year reunion. Through a series of comedic events, a funeral worker ends up at the wrong reunion, where everyone mistakes him for the school’s most successful but reclusive alumnus: an Asian billionaire tech bro.

The film was directed by first-generation Korean American storyteller John W. Kim. It has already received the Audience Choice Award at Cinequest, where it premiered. The film takes a modern spin on the classic Cinderella tale, where a mistaken identity creates mayhem and mystery.

If you graduated from high school and attended a reunion, you’ll definitely be able to relate to a lot of the elements in the story! The evolution of high school reunions is fascinating. At 10 years, people are still posturing and trying to prove they’re successful. By the 25th reunion, people become real and aren’t ashamed to admit their mistakes, while celebrating their accomplishments.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Topics: We see a little blood in a mortuary. There is talk of funerals and death.
Sexual Content: There are several crude jokes and references to sexual encounters from high school.
Substances: Characters are seen drinking alcohol, getting drunk, and smoking weed.

THEMES:

Nostalgia and Regret: Exploring how people change (or don’t) two decades after graduation, and wishing for resolution or revenge with their classmates.
High School Dynamics: The lingering impact of social hierarchies and past relationships.
Truth and Deception: The contrast between the lives people project and their actual realities.
Identity: As a comedy about a high school reunion, expect typical social dynamics and adult themes related to identity and career pressure, as well as being the only Asian in the school.
Kindness is ageless.

THINGS I LIKED:

The Cast: Everyone does a great job creating cliched characters we all knew in our high school experience. The cast stars Jake Choi, Candy Clark, Kelli Garner, Madeline Zima, Helena Mattsson, Ludi Lin, Sarah Waisman, and Ryan Hansen.
Comedic Improvisation: The humor is created by both spoken lines and physical gags.
Plot twist: There are a couple of plot twists that make the story fun and meaningful.
Reunion truths: There are some good truth-bombs shared throughout the film. I also loved the idea of a scavenger hunt at a reunion. I’ll have to suggest that we do that at my next reunion. (I was the Class President!)
Fun fact: In a feat of resilience, the movie was filmed in Los Angeles during the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires of 2024-2025; the production even supported crew members who lost their homes during shooting.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Indie Pacing: Some scenes lean heavily into the farcical elements, which might feel slightly disconnected from the more serious themes of alienation.

Limited Release: As a festival darling, it may be harder for wider audiences to find until it secures a larger distribution deal.

FUNNY LINES:

“I can’t post. Someone call the police.” – Angela Baskin (Helena Mattsson)

INTERESTING LINES:

“I think everyone’s looking for someone or something, ya know? Whether we find it or not isn’t really up to us. It’s for the universe to decide.” – Lena (Kelli Garner)
“One night and anything can happen.” – Lena (Kelli Garner)
“My dignity is my own. So are our experiences.” – Brad
“Your desire for what you want is so overwhelming that you can’t appreciate what you are now.” – Guy (Jake Choi)
“We don’t all grow up at once.” – Peg (Sarah Waisman)
“Does everyone have to pretend to be someone that they’re not?” – Lena (Kelli Garner)

MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

Reunion: https://amzn.to/3PSZhn1
Knives Out: https://moviereviewmom.com/knives-out-movie-review/
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion: https://amzn.to/47ITNBg

WATCH THE Movie Review Mom YOUTUBE REVIEW WITH THIS LINK: Coming soon!

@MovieReviewMom @TrinaBoice

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