Ingrid Goes West Review (2017): Girl Gone Wild

Aubrey Plaza is probably my favorite female comedian (after Amy Poehler, of course). Her deadpan delivery just hits the spot, never appearing annoying or pretentious. If you love Aubrey Plaza, then you will also love Ingrid Goes West. It feels as if Ingrid was written for Aubrey Plaza, just like Poppy in Happy Go Lucky was written for Sally Hawkins.

The film follows the adventure of titular Ingrid as she heads to the West Coast to stalk her insta-“bestie” Taylor, played very effectively by Elizabeth Olsen. Ingrid has a very weird obsession to be best friends with Taylor, going as far as eating at the same places as Taylor, buying the same clothes as Taylor, even stealing Taylor’s dog just to have an opportunity to return it and talk to Taylor. Though the two eventually become besties, it all comes crashing down for Ingrid once Taylor’s brother Nicky comes into the picture.

In terms of how the movie is shot, it’s all very contemporary. Fitting, given the main theme is social media, something which emerged in the world very recently. The visuals are wrapped in some sort of Insta filter and drowned in California sun. It’s a very chill viewing experience.

Plaza plays Ingrid in such a fascinatingly awkward manner that it’s not hard to root for her, even if it’s apparent that she’s the villain in the movie. The movie’s plot is quite straightforward, but it’s the performances that give the movie its life. Plaza and Olsen have such great chemistry — Plaza’s awkwardness is yin to Olsen’s phoniness.

One criticism I have with the movie is its resolution and final message. I don’t think the movie knew how to end itself. There is no denouement at the end, and the movie just ends flat. Basically, the conclusion didn’t live up to the great first three-fourths. Thinking about what happens at the end, it seems as if the movie glamorize suicide, and this something which I don’t agree with. Apart from that though, Ingrid Goes West is a solid film full of wonderful performances, most especially by Aubrey Plaza and Ashley Olsen.

I recommend.

Rating : 4/5

Originally published at datameetsmedia.com on April 3, 2018.