This is a really brilliant production that revitalizes some aspects of comedy and scifi. From the brilliant transition from a slacker family values dramedy, to the dynamic usage of "imaginary friend" as a transformative narrative. A good deal of the cimemotograhy was very intimate and relatable at times, while other shots further along in the movie were very well crafted and composed. Being a San Francisco native I was confused at times by the stitching of locations, however beautiful they were. However such a nit-pick for such a great film. I have many more positives to grant this brilliant film, but in doing so would ruin some of the great bits towards the movies end. Great work people!
10 Reviews
Good movie, Great Movie if you love San Francisco.
stevenjohnhubbard23 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Harmless & Pointless
imdbcommentatorNo529 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I caught Nowhere Girl at a film festival and came since my friend is a huge Josh Robert Thompson fan. He's a famous internet voice actor and the lead actor of the movie. Is he a breakout star?
Nah.
SPOILERS**********
I watched the trailer after the movie and the trailer spoils the whole movie. Plot: Tyler (JRT) is a guy nursing a breakup and we know this because he wears a bathrobe and a beard. Everyone makes fun of the beard but it's not that bad. He lives with his buddy Justin (David O'Donnell), the prudish wife Michelle (Jennifer Aspen), and an annoying child actor. The husband is undersexed and wants to sex his wife. She doesn't want sex. That's a big subplot in the movie. They eventually sex. The kid doesn't do anything though. He just yells his lines.
He meets a manic pixie dream girl at a restaurant and falls in love. She's a figment of his imagination and we learn this halfway into the movie. Nothing really happens in the 2nd half. His unfunny comic relief friend is blasé about this very obvious mental illness since the movie becomes about him getting his life back together. He's not a very good friend.
Might sound like I hate the movie but I don't. It's too flat to hate. It's a cheaper ripoff of Ruby Sparks but w/o the stuff that made that movie work. Tyler and manic pixie dream girl aren't a couple with much chemistry. She's subservient to him and thinks everything he says is hilarious (he's not hilarious). I guess we're supposed to think his jokes are funny but they're not and whenever someone laughs at a joke, characters are smarmy and unlikable. It might be some sorta satire about the pixie dream girl trope but the movie wants us to hope they get together in the end and I didn't give a darn. She's quirky because she has red hair. He's lonely because he has a beard. They're in love!
The rest of the movie is just conversations about Tyler and that's it. There's 1 subplot about the undersexed married couple but I didn't care. When it's not about that, it's the main couple hanging out to a musical montage or the married couple talking about Tyler. The whole movie revolves around him. "Quirky" side characters pop up (racist apartment manager, a hippie, a kinky sex fiend) and try really hard to be funny. The movie that puts so much effort into scenes of two people talking endlessly and if the movie was funnier, that'd be great but it's not so it's dry farts in an empty church.
Acting-wise, eh. Josh Thompson tries hard to be funny and cool but is neither. There's no conflict for his character so his character doesn't earn anything in the end. The other actors try their hardest but they don't have much to work with.
Good soundtrack.
Nah.
SPOILERS**********
I watched the trailer after the movie and the trailer spoils the whole movie. Plot: Tyler (JRT) is a guy nursing a breakup and we know this because he wears a bathrobe and a beard. Everyone makes fun of the beard but it's not that bad. He lives with his buddy Justin (David O'Donnell), the prudish wife Michelle (Jennifer Aspen), and an annoying child actor. The husband is undersexed and wants to sex his wife. She doesn't want sex. That's a big subplot in the movie. They eventually sex. The kid doesn't do anything though. He just yells his lines.
He meets a manic pixie dream girl at a restaurant and falls in love. She's a figment of his imagination and we learn this halfway into the movie. Nothing really happens in the 2nd half. His unfunny comic relief friend is blasé about this very obvious mental illness since the movie becomes about him getting his life back together. He's not a very good friend.
Might sound like I hate the movie but I don't. It's too flat to hate. It's a cheaper ripoff of Ruby Sparks but w/o the stuff that made that movie work. Tyler and manic pixie dream girl aren't a couple with much chemistry. She's subservient to him and thinks everything he says is hilarious (he's not hilarious). I guess we're supposed to think his jokes are funny but they're not and whenever someone laughs at a joke, characters are smarmy and unlikable. It might be some sorta satire about the pixie dream girl trope but the movie wants us to hope they get together in the end and I didn't give a darn. She's quirky because she has red hair. He's lonely because he has a beard. They're in love!
The rest of the movie is just conversations about Tyler and that's it. There's 1 subplot about the undersexed married couple but I didn't care. When it's not about that, it's the main couple hanging out to a musical montage or the married couple talking about Tyler. The whole movie revolves around him. "Quirky" side characters pop up (racist apartment manager, a hippie, a kinky sex fiend) and try really hard to be funny. The movie that puts so much effort into scenes of two people talking endlessly and if the movie was funnier, that'd be great but it's not so it's dry farts in an empty church.
Acting-wise, eh. Josh Thompson tries hard to be funny and cool but is neither. There's no conflict for his character so his character doesn't earn anything in the end. The other actors try their hardest but they don't have much to work with.
Good soundtrack.
Somebody please explain the ending!
fadetofog17 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I really enjoyed this movie. Sure, it's not without its glaring flaws in all aspects of technical filmmaking and acting etc etc, but I really don't care, I was charmed. It's very much got an "indie" feel to it (because it is) so don't go into it expecting a Hollywood-budget/style film, and you'll be alright. It's like a rom-com version of Fight Club (main character is even named Tyler)
Anyway, I NEED somebody to explain the ending to me. I know I'm overthinking something simply meant to feel sweet and satisfying, but I really don't get it no matter how much I try to make sense of it. How did Tyler know Katie was real... before she was real. I mean, is the message that somewhere out there in the world, our perfect dreamgirl does exist? If so that's great, BUT how did he know her name was Katie... and that she was from Chicago but she was about to move there in his mind... did he meet her in her past and now she's a future version of herself, but doesn't remember meeting him (in his mind) like he remembers her? And she was even wearing her star charm necklace that he noticed and understood the meaning of because presumably she told him on a date once (in his mind)... so like, she wasn't real but then he manifested her into real life or something? Is it like a Weird Science type of thing? In the breakup scene, she seemed genuinely offended that he was suggesting she's not real... like, she had zero self-awareness that she was an extension of Tyler (most imaginary friends in fiction usually have some idea of their quantum entanglement with their host and can't exist without them)... but she was all like whateverrrr i'm leaving to Chicago then if I don't "exist" to you, byeeeee.
It makes it ten times weirder that she actually DOES end up existing later. Like whoa, Katie was completely right to be offended because she DOES exist after all? So why didn't anybody see her throughout the movie, did she forget to take off her Wizarding World Invisibility Cloak? And why did she have amnesia about meeting Tyler BUT sort-of-kind-of remembered him ("have we met before?") Did somebody knock her on the head? Why does Tyler have complete recollection of everything and she doesn't?
I think it would have made more sense if the girl at the end wasn't ACTUALLY Katie, but another redhead who looked a lot like her and was checking Tyler out, so the moral could be not to fret too much over a breakup because there's plenty of fish in the sea and whatnot. But I don't know... can somebody explain? Thanks.
Anyway, I NEED somebody to explain the ending to me. I know I'm overthinking something simply meant to feel sweet and satisfying, but I really don't get it no matter how much I try to make sense of it. How did Tyler know Katie was real... before she was real. I mean, is the message that somewhere out there in the world, our perfect dreamgirl does exist? If so that's great, BUT how did he know her name was Katie... and that she was from Chicago but she was about to move there in his mind... did he meet her in her past and now she's a future version of herself, but doesn't remember meeting him (in his mind) like he remembers her? And she was even wearing her star charm necklace that he noticed and understood the meaning of because presumably she told him on a date once (in his mind)... so like, she wasn't real but then he manifested her into real life or something? Is it like a Weird Science type of thing? In the breakup scene, she seemed genuinely offended that he was suggesting she's not real... like, she had zero self-awareness that she was an extension of Tyler (most imaginary friends in fiction usually have some idea of their quantum entanglement with their host and can't exist without them)... but she was all like whateverrrr i'm leaving to Chicago then if I don't "exist" to you, byeeeee.
It makes it ten times weirder that she actually DOES end up existing later. Like whoa, Katie was completely right to be offended because she DOES exist after all? So why didn't anybody see her throughout the movie, did she forget to take off her Wizarding World Invisibility Cloak? And why did she have amnesia about meeting Tyler BUT sort-of-kind-of remembered him ("have we met before?") Did somebody knock her on the head? Why does Tyler have complete recollection of everything and she doesn't?
I think it would have made more sense if the girl at the end wasn't ACTUALLY Katie, but another redhead who looked a lot like her and was checking Tyler out, so the moral could be not to fret too much over a breakup because there's plenty of fish in the sea and whatnot. But I don't know... can somebody explain? Thanks.
I wish that this movie was imaginary
NerezzaAU2 January 2018
At first I thought that this film was the worst written movie I'd ever seen, then it dropped it's plot twist. I'd really hoped that everything up to that point had simply been tongue in cheek and was about to take off. The movie then continued to be the worst written film I'd ever seen.
There's an idea here but it's execution is laughable. Except for the protagonist and his 'partner' all of the characters felt scripted and unrealistic. The jokes were awful and often verging on juvenile and the ending made absolutely no sense. I found myself smile only once at the African American real estate agent bit. Even the production was a mess. Scenes just faded in and out from each other at odd intervals. I have no idea how this has received a 6.5. The reviews must be padded otherwise I've a seriously grim view of humanity's taste in cinema.
This movie got one thing right however - the redhead is everything I'd want out of a woman.
Please go to film school and learn how to make a movie before trying again.
There's an idea here but it's execution is laughable. Except for the protagonist and his 'partner' all of the characters felt scripted and unrealistic. The jokes were awful and often verging on juvenile and the ending made absolutely no sense. I found myself smile only once at the African American real estate agent bit. Even the production was a mess. Scenes just faded in and out from each other at odd intervals. I have no idea how this has received a 6.5. The reviews must be padded otherwise I've a seriously grim view of humanity's taste in cinema.
This movie got one thing right however - the redhead is everything I'd want out of a woman.
Please go to film school and learn how to make a movie before trying again.
Nowhere Girl requires a Nowhere Viewer
stevepat9917 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Josh has become a couch potato in the full throes of recent heartbreak and hanging at his best friends home. He finally heads out to meet 'life' and runs into Katie at the coffee shop. Katie's radiant but obvious red wig is overdone but perhaps plays into the films first major plot, whether Katie is real. The issue of others 'accepting' an imaginary relationship was handled much better in Lars and the Real Girl.
In all of her scenes Katie is never seen by other people, pointing big time to Katie being imaginary. Not that there is anything wrong with that,,,,,if handled well.
Sadly, this film requires Nowhere Viewers as the script tosses out weird, disjointed twists. First, is the build-up by Josh's friends, as they convince Josh that Katie is imaginary. After all, they had dinner with Josh and stared as Josh conversed with an empty. Katie was nowhere to be seen at the dinner. Then, in a down-the-rabbit-hole twist, both of Josh's friends, at different places and times out of doors, actually see Josh with Katie at a distance. Just as quickly as they see her Katie vanishes into thin air. This is best explained if whatever Josh is suffering was contagious. For his part Josh has never seen Katie vanish mid scene. Is everyone now crazy? The ending is contrived, muddled and a total head scratcher. It makes sense if one had not been watching the prior 95 minutes. Otherwise we are talking smoke and mirrors. The script would have been better if Josh and his friends were all sitting with four leaf clovers saying in unison Katie is real, Katie is imaginary...and deciding on one.
In all of her scenes Katie is never seen by other people, pointing big time to Katie being imaginary. Not that there is anything wrong with that,,,,,if handled well.
Sadly, this film requires Nowhere Viewers as the script tosses out weird, disjointed twists. First, is the build-up by Josh's friends, as they convince Josh that Katie is imaginary. After all, they had dinner with Josh and stared as Josh conversed with an empty. Katie was nowhere to be seen at the dinner. Then, in a down-the-rabbit-hole twist, both of Josh's friends, at different places and times out of doors, actually see Josh with Katie at a distance. Just as quickly as they see her Katie vanishes into thin air. This is best explained if whatever Josh is suffering was contagious. For his part Josh has never seen Katie vanish mid scene. Is everyone now crazy? The ending is contrived, muddled and a total head scratcher. It makes sense if one had not been watching the prior 95 minutes. Otherwise we are talking smoke and mirrors. The script would have been better if Josh and his friends were all sitting with four leaf clovers saying in unison Katie is real, Katie is imaginary...and deciding on one.
Fun and surprising film
sbraed200420 January 2015
My husband and I happened upon this film at The Idyllwild International Film Festival and were very glad we did. The performances are wonderful, the characters so funny and lovable. There was just a tiny bit of intimacy that was a little uncomfortable for me, and quite a bit of off-color humor that I must admit we laughed at right out loud (may not be suitable for younger ones). Sweet film, well done. Really enjoyed the writing, the subtle filming, nice score,and sweet nature of the relationships portrayed. We had an opportunity to chat with one of the producers after the film, and he was clearly having a grand time. We discovered afterward that the married couple in the film are actually... married. They had wonderful chemistry and a lovely arc as well. Jennifer Aspen was simply outstanding, hysterical.
Just terrible
TheDome818 January 2024
Once again. Here's a movie that got high ratings on IMDb for one reason, everyone involved in the project rated it. And they felt the need to hype it up in the review section. I should know better than take a chance on a movie thats been artificially boosted.
Now onto the movie. Let's just say I usually give a movie 30 minutes or so before I call it quits. With this one I had to bail after 10 minutes! That just may be a new record for me. The writing sounded like it was a poorly written sit com. Only with a sit com, the torture is over after 20 minutes or so. I definitely couldn't tolerate and hour and a half of it here. And the acting was terrible as well.
So when you see a reviewer saying take a chance with this movie, ignore it! It's simply terrible.
--MovieJunkieMark.
Now onto the movie. Let's just say I usually give a movie 30 minutes or so before I call it quits. With this one I had to bail after 10 minutes! That just may be a new record for me. The writing sounded like it was a poorly written sit com. Only with a sit com, the torture is over after 20 minutes or so. I definitely couldn't tolerate and hour and a half of it here. And the acting was terrible as well.
So when you see a reviewer saying take a chance with this movie, ignore it! It's simply terrible.
--MovieJunkieMark.
Light hearted study in the human condition
robertenvall20 January 2016
Assembled with a top notch cast and crew, this movie was created with very little time or money. That being said, they created a wonderful story that is much better than a lot of the big budget films out there This is a feel good movie about the various stages of love, and how we handle them. It manages to portray all of this emotion (and humor) without being "schmoopie" - even the guys can have fun - and the characters are relatable and real.
I would love to see this ensemble in another film or two, and am looking forward to more of the Directors work.
Take the time and seek this film out - you will be glad you did!
I would love to see this ensemble in another film or two, and am looking forward to more of the Directors work.
Take the time and seek this film out - you will be glad you did!
Take a chance on this one, you won't be disappointed! Really enjoyable and fun flick for a wide audience.
amazon-9934016 October 2015
Overall I thought it was a very smart and witty film.
The cast played really well against each other with some stand-out performances to lead the way from Josh Robert Thompson and Jennifer Aspen. Some great witty comic relief from Tyler's British friend too!
Its really enjoyable to watch, unlike the typical 'low budget independent film' you often hear about. Also, the production value is outstanding compared to other low budget indies I have watched, it definitely looks like a bigger budget movie.
I have recommended it to many friends, both guys and girls, as it definitely appeals to a wide audience.
A nice alternate pick to the standard studio fare for either a stay-at-home date night or even with a just a few buddies.
The cast played really well against each other with some stand-out performances to lead the way from Josh Robert Thompson and Jennifer Aspen. Some great witty comic relief from Tyler's British friend too!
Its really enjoyable to watch, unlike the typical 'low budget independent film' you often hear about. Also, the production value is outstanding compared to other low budget indies I have watched, it definitely looks like a bigger budget movie.
I have recommended it to many friends, both guys and girls, as it definitely appeals to a wide audience.
A nice alternate pick to the standard studio fare for either a stay-at-home date night or even with a just a few buddies.
a very cute and unassuming jewel
accts-866-1252957 January 2019
A very cute and unassuming movie with great characters and actors and more importantly, a great plot and writing. perhaps the best part of all was the 'ending' which you could take as supernatural or psychic or maybe an unreliable narrator. and that was perfect for an ending to such a movie. a very solid 8.0 and very highly recommended to all. watched it on amazon prime. also, i had to edit this review closely in order not to even display a minor spoiler as you need to experience every bit of it as things unfold.
btw, this movie had many elements of one of my favorite books of all time, 'portrait of jennie'. i think that's why i enjoyed it so much.
/guy
btw, this movie had many elements of one of my favorite books of all time, 'portrait of jennie'. i think that's why i enjoyed it so much.
/guy
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