đ Reviewing: Plus One (2019)
Love isnât about chance run-ins or cute accidents. Itâs simpler than that. Itâs about finding someone you want to hang out with as long as humanly possible and just trying not to screw it up.
As I prepare to attend a wedding in November, I decided to revisit Plus One, one of my favorite rom-coms. The film follows longtime friends Ben and Alice, played by Jack Quaid (The Boys) and Maya Erskine (Pen15), who agree to be each other's plus one for a summer packed with weddings.
** Fun fact: Jack Quaid is the son of Meg Ryan (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, Youâve Got Mail), so he was destined to be a rom-com star.
Plus One embodies all the quintessential tropes of a rom-comâitâs charming, smart, and funny. But what sets it apart is its relatability. At a wedding, weâve all endured cringeworthy speeches, awkward run-ins with old flames, and had one too many drinks at the open bar. Yet, we still shed a tear during the vows, reflecting on our own lives as we witness the start of someone elseâs.
However, on this viewingâmy sixthâI related differently. Sure, relationships are uncertain, but everything about the future is uncertain. We donât commit to relationships because weâre sure; we commit because itâs fun, itâs surprising, itâs worth it. Committing is made even easier when a strong friendship serves as the foundation for a romantic relationship since connection, acceptance, and shared memories are already present.
Beyond the on-screen chemistry, humor, and romance, Plus One offers a lasting lesson: if youâre too determined to find "the one," you might miss the one whoâs been there all along. Plus One is available to stream on Hulu and Netflix.
đș Watching: The Penguin (2024)
The city is meant to be yours, sweetheart. What are you going to do to get it?
While Iâm not typically drawn to superheroes, Iâve always been fascinated by the Batman universe. I think itâs because Batman is a superhero without superhuman powers, instead relying on intellect and technology to combat crime. Iâm also attracted to this world because Gotham feels gritty and grounded, rooted in real-life cities like Manhattan and Pittsburgh (my hometown, where The Dark Knight Rises was shot).
The Penguin, a spin-off of the film The Batman (2022), is a limited series exploring the rise of the popular villain in Gotham's criminal underworld. Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Cristin Milioti (How I Met Your Mother) lead the cast, but itâs Farrellâs performance and physical transformation into the Penguin that steal the show.
One of the showâs biggest accomplishments is that it stands on its own. Even if the Batman universe were removed, it would remain a solid story with well-realized characters navigating trauma, class, wealth, and desire.
Although the series is just beginning, the first episode hints at a promising gangster noir, exploring the dark journey of a man driven to do anything for power in Gotham City. The first episode of The Penguin is available to stream on Max.
đ§ Listening To: Bon Iver
Nothing's really happened like I thought it would.
One of my most cherished Bon Iver memories is from 2009 at the Austin City Limits music festival. It was raining and cold, but the crowd braved the weather, drawn by the allure of Bon Iver's haunting performance. There was something magical about finding comfort in discomfort, surrounded by strangers united in the experience. Before the final song, Justin Vernon asked the crowd to scream together toward the sky. As we did, the rain stopped. It was one of those rare, surreal moments where I felt deeply connected to the people around me and to the universe itself.
After a five-year hiatus from new releases, Bon Iver has just gifted us with a fresh track, âS P E Y S I D E,â and announced an upcoming EP titled SABLE,, set to drop on October 18th. âS P E Y S I D Eâ is available to stream on Spotify.
đ·ââïž Working On: Key Lime & Pleasure Chest
Iâve always loved movies. Since I was a teenager, theyâve been how I connect with the worldâhow I understand othersâ experiences and gain new perspectives. This summer, I got to make my dream of working on set a reality by helping on two feature-length films, Key Lime and Pleasure Chest. Here are a few reflections from that experience:
#1 Always Ask
We donât know what the future holds and how much time we have here, and for me, making a film is something I must accomplish in this life. So this year, I decided it was time to stop making excuses and start making progress. In June, I reached out to a filmmaker acquaintance after he posted about a new feature film he was working on called Key Lime. Itâs a no-budget film, so he was looking for all the help he could get. I asked if I could be part of it, and to my surprise, he said yes.
My first day on set, I was blown away by the warmth and openness. Everyone was so welcoming, asking about what I was working on and offering their help even before I built a rapport with them. It felt like I had stumbled into a creative family. You just never know what might come out of a simple askâlike spending the whole day shooting in a mansion.
#2 It Takes an Army
While working on Key Lime, I met Sterling, another filmmaker who was working on a rom-com with a much bigger budget. We hit it off, and soon enough, I was on his set as well.
They say a film is born three timesâwhen it's written, when itâs shot, and when itâs edited. What Iâve learned is that filmmaking is a massive collaboration. Every detail, from the props and lighting to the wardrobe and set design, requires experts in their own right. Itâs truly an army of artists coming together. Everyone wears multiple hats, and without this collective effort, the magic we see on screen wouldnât happen.
#3 Hurry Up and Wait
On set, you hear this phrase constantly, and itâs spot-on. Looking back at my photos from set, Iâve got so many of people just hanging outâon their phones, lounging between shots, waiting for a lens swap, or the lights to be just right for a scene.
Thereâs a lot of downtime, but this âwaitingâ has its own value. It teaches you patience, the importance of being prepared, and how to adapt to last-minute changes. Itâs part of the processâmaximizing those quiet moments before the cameras start rolling again.
#4 Everyday Wins
Youâd think the release of the film is the final goal, but making a movie is a journey full of little wins and endless challenges. Every day, something unexpected happens. Now I understand why so many films are shot on soundstagesâit gives you more control over the chaos.
The lighting, weather, technical issues, or public interruptions are just a few of the things you deal with. But what Iâve realized is that itâs not about perfection. Itâs about solving a million tiny problems with a million little victories. Thatâs where the magic happens. And itâs the memories of these moments, of the people I worked with, that Iâll hold onto long after summer ends remembering the weird little worlds I built with these crews.
#5 Be Yourself
This might be the most important lesson of all. Iâve found that the more I lean into being myselfâunapologetically, fully, creativelyâthe more life opens up for me. Being kind, generous, interested, and sometimes overly romantic... those are my values, and the more I embody them, the more positive energy seems to find its way back to me.
This summer taught me a lot about filmmaking. But it also reminded me to stay true to myself, no matter what. Thatâs how you build meaningful connections, live a fulfilling life, and write beautiful storiesâŠ..on-screen and off.
Thanks for being here.
â Justin