I Used to Go Here Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A struggling writer goes back to college to give a talk, but mostly just awkwardly hangs out with students, proving once and for all that you can’t go home again, especially if ‘home’ is a dorm party you’re way too old for.

🍿 I Used to Go Here: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Returning to the Alma Mater

Kate Conklin, a 35-year-old writer, has just published her debut novel. Unfortunately, the book tour is cancelled, and her personal life is also in disarray, including dealing with an ex-fiancé. Feeling adrift, she receives an unexpected invitation.

An Unexpected Invitation

Kate’s former writing professor, David Kirkpatrick, invites her back to her alma mater to give a guest lecture. Seeing it as an escape and a chance to revisit a happier time, Kate accepts. She stays at a bed and breakfast near her old college house.

Enmeshed with Students

While back on campus, Kate finds herself drawn to the current group of students living in her old house. She quickly becomes involved in their lives and college antics, experiencing a sense of nostalgia and a brief return to her youth. This includes attending parties and navigating their social dynamics.

Navigating Old & New Relationships

Kate reconnects with Professor Kirkpatrick, exploring their past dynamic. Simultaneously, she forms new, often awkward, connections with the college students, including a young student named Hugo. The film follows her as she balances her adult anxieties with her immersion in student life.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Kate (Gillian Jacobs): A struggling 35-year-old writer who returns to her alma mater and becomes enmeshed in the lives of current college students.
• David (Jemaine Clement): Kate’s former professor who invites her back to campus, representing a complicated link to her past.
• Hugo (Josh Wiggins): A college student who lives in Kate’s former house and forms a connection with her during her visit.
• Animal (Forrest Goodluck): A college student and friend of Hugo who gets involved in Kate’s unexpected campus activities.
• April (Hannah Marks): A college student who has a confrontational encounter with Kate during her visit.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• April: “You know how embarrassing that was for me last night? It was humiliating. And now you’re doing like the same fucking thing.” – April confronts Kate after Kate’s behavior mirrors April’s own recent social misstep, highlighting the generational and maturity gap.
• Kate: “Well, it’s not exactly the same thing, but it is a very similar thing.” – Kate’s slightly awkward and defensive response to April’s accusation, acknowledging the uncomfortable truth of her regression.
• Kate: “It could be better.” – Kate delivers the film’s final line, referencing a recurring critique of her novel and reflecting on her overall experience and current state.
• Hugo: “I wish I could write like that.” – Hugo compliments Kate on an old, deeply personal essay about her dead brother that he found, showing a genuine connection amidst their generational divide.

💰Box Office

• Budget: Unknown
• Domestic Gross: Unknown
• Worldwide Gross: $23,898

💥 I Used to Go Here Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into ‘I Used to Go Here’ expecting something maybe a bit more laugh-out-loud, but I ended up really connecting with the vibe. It felt super real in its awkwardness. Like, who *hasn’t* felt a little lost and considered just completely regressing? Gillian Jacobs totally nails that feeling of being adrift when everyone else seems to have it together. I especially liked the scenes where she’s just hanging out with the college kids – it felt genuinely uncomfortable and funny because it wasn’t trying too hard. The part where they break into the house felt like something silly you’d actually do in college, but seeing her do it as an adult really highlighted her arrested development. It’s not a movie with huge plot twists or explosive drama, but it has this quiet charm. It’s the kind of film that makes you think about your own past and how weird it is to navigate being a ‘real adult’. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something relatable and a bit melancholic, with some genuinely funny character moments.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of indie dramedies”
  • “Viewers interested in stories about identity and mid-life transitions”
  • “Fans of Gillian Jacobs or Jemaine Clement”
  • “People nostalgic about their college years”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Depiction of alcohol and drug use (marijuana)”
  • “Some mature themes related to relationships and power dynamics”
  • “Mild language”

Professional Reviews

• Synthesized: “Kris Rey’s latest offers a relatable, albeit low-key, look at mid-career malaise and nostalgia. Gillian Jacobs is charming and grounds the film with a vulnerable performance, even when the plot meanders. It’s a quiet character study that doesn’t aim for grand statements, but finds small, authentic moments.
• Synthesized: “While ‘I Used to Go Here’ has a promising premise and a talented cast, including a funny Jemaine Clement, the execution feels somewhat flat. The story lacks narrative drive and many characters feel underdeveloped. It captures the college atmosphere well, but ultimately leaves you wanting more substance.
• Synthesized: “Despite Gillian Jacobs’ best efforts, this dramedy struggles to find its footing. The dialogue often feels unnatural, the pacing is slow, and the central premise of a 35-year-old embedding herself with college students frequently veers into cringe territory without earning its dramatic weight. A disappointing, forgettable effort.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers related to the feeling of nostalgia and returning to their college days.: Gillian Jacobs’ performance is widely praised for being authentic and carrying the film.

The awkward humor and relatable portrayal of feeling lost resonated with some.: The film successfully captures the specific atmosphere of a college town.

Overall Consensus: A mild, indie dramedy that divides audiences; praised for Gillian Jacobs’ relatable performance and nostalgic atmosphere, but often criticized for slow pacing, thin plot, and awkward character interactions that some found cringey or boring.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Although the film is set at Southern Illinois University (referred to as ‘Illinois University’ in the movie) in Carbondale, Illinois, it was primarily filmed in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, with only some exterior shots reportedly taken in Carbondale.”
• “Writer/Director Kris Rey makes a brief cameo appearance as the new girlfriend of Kate’s ex-fiancé, seen in an Instagram photo.”
• “The film was produced in part by Party Over Here, the production company founded by Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone (who also has a small role in the film).”

🖥️ How to Watch I Used to Go Here?

Looking to watch ‘I Used to Go Here’? This indie dramedy had a limited release and may be available on various digital platforms for rent or purchase, such as Prime Video, Apple TV, or Vudu. Availability on subscription streaming services like Hulu, Max, or Netflix can change. Check your preferred streaming platform for the most current viewing options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed I Used to Go Here, you might like these similar films:

• Liberal Arts (2012): Features a disillusioned adult in his 30s who returns to his alma mater and develops complicated relationships with current college students and a former professor, exploring themes of nostalgia, arrested development, and finding one’s place.
• Frances Ha (2012): A black-and-white indie comedy-drama following a dancer in her late twenties navigating career struggles, friendships shifting, and feeling adrift in New York, capturing a similar sense of a young woman figuring out her life during a transitional period.
• Lady Bird (2017): While focused on a high school senior, this film captures the specific energy and awkwardness of a particular time and place, the yearning for something more, and the complex relationships tied to identity and home, resonating with the nostalgia and self-discovery themes in ‘I Used to Go Here’.
• Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022): Centers on a recent college graduate who feels lost and takes a job as a ‘party starter’ for bar/bat mitzvahs, where he develops a relationship with a mother and her autistic daughter, exploring themes of post-college aimlessness, intergenerational connection, and finding unexpected purpose.
• Rushmore (1998): A Wes Anderson cult classic involving complex relationships between an eccentric high school student, a wealthy industrialist, and an elementary school teacher, known for its unique characters, distinctive tone, and explorations of unconventional friendships and mentorships.

🛒 I Used to Go Here Related Products

• I Used to Go Here (Digital or Blu-ray): Own the movie to rewatch Kate’s cringey-but-relatable journey back to her alma mater.
• Guided Journal: For Navigating Your Twenties & Thirties: A journal with prompts to help process life, career, and feelings – much like Kate needed!
• Community ‘Greendale Human Being’ T-Shirt: Show your love for one of Gillian Jacobs’ most iconic roles in this classic tee.
• Kris Rey Director’s Collection (Digital Bundle): Explore more films from the writer/director of ‘I Used to Go Here’, known for her slice-of-life indie dramedies.

🎧 Soundtrack

I Used to Go Here features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Ask Me” – performed by Star Parks

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

🤨 FAQ

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