Mr. Roosevelt Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A struggling comedian returns home for her dying cat and accidentally attends her own emotional funeral while awkwardly crashing with her ex-boyfriend and his seemingly superior new partner.

🍿 Mr. Roosevelt: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Struggling Comedian Returns Home

Emily Martin, a 25-year-old struggling comedian based in Los Angeles, receives difficult news about a loved one back in her college town of Austin, Texas. This prompts an unexpected return to the city she left behind to pursue her career dreams. Her trip home forces her to confront the life and relationships she abruptly departed from.

Staying With the Ex

Upon arriving in Austin, Emily finds herself staying with her ex-boyfriend, Eric Kline, and his new girlfriend, Celeste Jones. This awkward living situation brings old feelings and unresolved issues to the surface. Emily navigates the complexities of seeing her past life through the lens of Eric’s new reality.

Navigating Old Friendships and New Realities

While in Austin, Emily reconnects with former friends and grapples with the changes they and the city have undergone. Her professional aspirations clash with the settled lives of others, leading to moments of humor, tension, and introspection. She finds herself reflecting on her choices and the path her life has taken.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Emily Martin (Noël Wells): A struggling comedian who returns to her college town to confront her past and her ex after her beloved cat falls ill.
• Eric Kline (Nick Thune): Emily’s former boyfriend in Austin who now lives with his new girlfriend.
• Celeste Jones (Britt Lower): Eric’s new girlfriend, whose presence creates tension for Emily during her visit to Austin.
• Jen Morales (Daniella Pineda): A friend of Emily’s in Austin who provides support and perspective.
• Art (Andre Hyland): An acquaintance of Emily’s in Austin.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Jen: “You’re a good person… with really bad execution.” – Jen offers Emily blunt but supportive feedback about her behavior and choices during a conversation.
• Emily Martin: “I forgot what funny is.” – Emily expresses her feelings of being creatively and personally lost while struggling with her comedy career in Los Angeles.
• Emily Martin: “I just… I can’t believe Mr. Roosevelt is gone.” – Emily reacts emotionally to the news of her cat’s illness, which triggers her return to Austin and confrontation with her past.
• Eric Kline: “Maybe you should just grow up, Emily.” – Eric confronts Emily about her immature behavior and inability to move past their relationship and the life she left behind.
• Emily Martin: “So… Celeste codes?” – Emily makes an awkward attempt at conversation during a dinner party, revealing her underlying insecurity about her ex-boyfriend’s successful new girlfriend.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Mr. Roosevelt Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but I actually really dug it. I mean, yeah, the main character Emily is kind of a mess, but honestly, who *isn’t* a mess in their mid-twenties trying to figure things out? I totally felt for her awkwardness crashing with her ex and his new girlfriend. That dinner scene? PURE cringe, but in a good, ‘oh god I’ve been there’ way. It just nails that feeling of watching your old life move on without you while you feel stuck. Plus, the Austin vibe is so cool and authentic. It made me want to visit! It’s not a huge, flashy movie, but it felt really real and made me think about my own past relationships and how weird it is to revisit old chapters of your life. Definitely recommend if you like indie films that feel genuine.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of independent cinema and mumblecore films”
  • “Viewers interested in character-driven comedies”
  • “Audiences who enjoy films exploring millennial anxieties and quarter-life crises”
  • “Fans of Noël Wells’ work”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Dealing with pet illness/death”
  • “Emotional outbursts and meltdowns”
  • “Alcohol consumption”
  • “Nudity”

Professional Reviews

• Indie Film Quarterly: “Noël Wells makes a confident directorial debut, also starring as Emily, a comedian facing her past in Austin. While the plot about returning for a sick cat feels like a quirky hook, the film genuinely captures the cringe-worthy navigation of revisiting old relationships and the feeling of being stuck while others move on. Wells is relatable, even when her character is difficult, making for an authentic, albeit sometimes uncomfortable, viewing experience.
• Arts Weekly: “”Mr. Roosevelt” leans heavily on the comedic performance of Noël Wells, who also wrote and directed. The Austin setting is beautifully rendered, and there are moments of sharp humor and uncomfortable truth in the protagonist’s interactions with her ex and his new girlfriend. However, Emily’s often immature behavior can be alienating, and the central conflict, while relatable on an emotional level, sometimes struggles to feel substantial.

Audience Reactions

Viewers connected with the film’s authentic portrayal of awkwardness and quarter-life struggles.: Many praised Noël Wells’ performance and the genuine, relatable feeling of the story, particularly its depiction of revisiting your hometown and dealing with exes. The authentic Austin setting was also a big plus for many.

Some found the main character’s immaturity frustrating but acknowledged its realistic portrayal.: While some found Emily’s behavior annoying, others appreciated the raw, unfiltered look at a person struggling to grow up. The film sparked discussions about maturity, regret, and navigating modern relationships.

Overall Consensus: A charming, relatable indie comedy about navigating your past and finding your place, even if the protagonist can be a bit grating at times.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Noël Wells served as the writer, director, and star of the film, marking her feature directorial debut.”
• “Daniella Pineda’s nude scenes in the movie were her only career nude scenes as of November 2024.”
• “A notable goof involves Emily’s iPhone switching from a silver, undamaged model to a broken one during a scene by the lake before she throws it.”
• “Filming took place on location in Austin, Texas, capturing the city’s specific atmosphere that is central to the story.”

🖥️ How to Watch Mr. Roosevelt?

Looking to watch ‘Mr. Roosevelt’? This indie comedy has been available on various platforms since its 2017 release. It has previously streamed on services like Netflix. To find where it’s currently streaming, renting, or available for purchase, check popular platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube Movies. Availability may vary by region and change over time, so checking a service like JustWatch is recommended for the most up-to-date options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Mr. Roosevelt, you might like these similar films:

• Frances Ha (2012): A direct comparison as it follows a young woman navigating friendships, career setbacks, and quarter-life crises with a similar indie, character-driven comedic tone.
• Garden State (2004): Features a protagonist returning to their hometown after a significant event (a loved one’s death), confronting the past, and experiencing introspective and awkward social encounters.
• The Big Sick (2017): Released in the same era and centered around a struggling comedian navigating relationships and personal growth, offering a blend of comedy and drama with an indie sensibility.
• Tiny Furniture (2010): Lena Dunham’s film shares the theme of a young woman returning home post-college, feeling directionless and struggling with relationships and identity, characteristic of early millennial indie cinema.
• Slacker (1990): Richard Linklater’s cult classic, set in Austin, captures the city’s unique indie culture and follows a series of disconnected characters, appealing to fans interested in the film’s setting and independent spirit.

🛒 Mr. Roosevelt Related Products

• Personalized Pet Memorial Stone: Honor your beloved pet with a beautiful, personalized memorial stone for your garden or home. A touching tribute to a furry family member.
• Lonely Planet Austin Guide: Explore the unique culture, music, food, and history of Austin, Texas with this comprehensive travel guide. Discover local hotspots and hidden gems.
• Comedy Writing Secrets: The Best Book on Writing Jokes, Sketches, Etc.: Learn the craft of writing comedy, from stand-up jokes to sketches, with practical tips and techniques from experienced writers.
• Keep Austin Weird T-Shirt: Show your love for Austin’s unique and quirky spirit with this iconic ‘Keep Austin Weird’ graphic tee.

🎧 Soundtrack

Mr. Roosevelt features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Flamingo” – performed by The Fruit Bats

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Theodore Roosevelt vs Winston Churchill. Epic Rap Battles of History

Ever wondered what it would be like if Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt faced off in a rap battle? This video is hilariously creative and incredibly popular – seriously, the rhymes are surprisingly sharp!

If by Rudyard Kipling – Read by Sir Michael Caine

Want to hear Sir Michael Caine’s iconic voice outside the film? Listening to him read Rudyard Kipling’s powerful poem ‘If’ feels incredibly fitting for Churchill’s spirit and is quite moving.

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