What is it that draws us to these curated "news" feeds that more often than not provide us with completely irrelevant information? Why do we instinctively tap on those apps that show us what an acquaintance ate for breakfast that morning, which high school friend is pregnant with their second child, and who got fired from the White House this week?
I couldn't even begin to list off all of the reasons social media has taken over our lives, but I do know it has gotten in the way of real, authentic relationships. What people present on social media is usually what they believe to be their best selves. That's why Ingrid Goes West is such an impactful movie. At times it feels like you shouldn't be laughing. It hits a little too close to home. And that's the point.
Ingrid is grappling with grief after her mother's death. Whether her social media obsession was birthed from her trauma, or was enhanced by it, it's gotten out of control. Clearly Ingrid has a legitimate mental illness in this movie, but writer/director, Matt Spicer, does a great job walking that dark comedy tightrope where you kind of chuckle awkwardly at the situation because it's so absurd, but also have a measure of compassion for the protagonist. Aubrey Plaza's stunning performance helps strike that balance as well.
When Ingrid inherits a big chunk of change from her mom, she moves to California to try to become friends with her latest social media obsession: Taylor Sloane (played by Elizabeth Olson). Ingrid changes her whole appearance to match Taylor's, trying to think of every conceivable way to meet her in person. She finally resorts to kidnapping Taylor's dog, Roscoe, and slyly refusing the award money to earn her favor. It seems that Ingrid's dreams have come true when Taylor starts to pursue her to hang out more and more.
The closer Ingrid gets to Taylor, the more she starts to realize that maybe Taylor's life isn't as perfect as it seems. Clearly Taylor has some insecurities too. When Taylor's brother, Nicky (the epitome of a douchebag), finds out about her obsession with Taylor and blackmails her, Ingrid turns to the only real friend who cares about her, her landlord/faux boyfriend, Dan.
Dan's intervention in the situation sets off a series of events that spiral to Ingrid being exposed and shunned by the person who's approval she wants the most in the world: Taylor. It's clear that Ingrid measures her value and worth by the affirmation of "friends" on social media. Even when Dan is right in front of her, trying to show her how much he cares about her, she can't peel her eyes away from her phone long enough to realize what she wants is at her fingertips.
Plaza and Olsen give excellent performances in this film and the characters were expertly written, especially Dan Pinto who's played by O'Shea Jackson Jr. (the son of none other than Ice Cube). He's an aspiring screenwriter obsessed with the Batman franchise and is confident he is writing the next big Batman movie, unbeknownst to anyone else in Hollywood. Dan's character helps to bring some levity to the film, helping it solidify its place in the dark comedy genre so that we don't have to leave the theater feeling like everyone is either a big phony or a complete nut case.
It's true that Ingrid Goes West is an important, and often times, hilarious commentary on our social media obsessed culture. It also shows the danger of social media even if it is hyperbolic. But more than that, it acts as a mirror for our own lives. I walked away from the film being struck by how easy it is to define friendship by the same standards as Ingrid. Ingrid Goes West is uncomfortable in large part because I think we can all see a bit of ourselves in Ingrid. Whether it brings about a change in your social media habits or not, that's up to you, but it is at least cause for reflection.
You can go check out Ingrid Goes West in a theater near you.
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