I LIKE MOVIES: A Quirky And Unique Ode To Cinema

When it comes to films that openly proclaim their love for cinema, Chandler Levack’s I Like Movies is certainly a unique addition to this endearing subgenre. Coming out in 2022, where the likes of Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans) and Sam Mendes (Empire of Light) crafted their own versions of said love letters, this small Canadian feature film served as a quirky and creatively-charged addition to the conversation. Rather than showcasing the grand spectacle of cinema, Levack paints an illustrious depiction of how vital movies can be to someone, and in doing so, conveys the true scope and scale of the art form. I Like Movies is an impressive feature film debut that’s odd and endearing, and fully infused with 90s nostalgia to perfection.

Set in Burlington, Ontario (a small suburb west of Toronto), Lawrence (Isaiah Lehtinen) is a bonafide cinephile who cannot separate himself from the imaginative world of movies. He spends much of his free time rallying through the never-ending collection of films from his local video store, Sequels, while also filming a year-end video with his best friend Matt (Percy Hynes White). When an opportunity to work at Sequels opens up, Lawrence thinks he’s found his dream job, but ends up getting a dose of reality in what is also his first official venture into the working world. He develops a close bond with the store’s manager, Alana (Romina D’Ugo), who doesn’t necessarily understand Lawrence’s enthusiasm for the video rental marketplace.

The solitary beauty of cinema

Tapping into the often isolating nature of the movie viewing experience, Levack pens a very unique ode to the cinematic medium that revels in its individualism. In a time when studios and exhibitors are all rallying behind how movies can bring people together, I Like Movies seemingly poses a counterpoint to this message. By channeling the film’s energy through Lawrence’s passionate obsession with cinema, it also leans on how alienating his passion can be. From Lawrence’s perspective, movies literally define his existence as a human being, and anyone who isn’t on the same wavelength is almost viewed as a lesser being. This includes his best friend Matt, who he watches movies with, but secretly (and later, not so secretly) deems unworthy of having meaningful discussions about said films.

This entitled and almost pompous viewpoint certainly shouldn’t define how cinephiles appreciate movies, but it does illustrate how individualism can characterize one’s love for cinema. No matter how collective the theatrical experience might be, in the end, how someone consumes and processes a film is very much their own entity. Taking a step back, it’s an isolating thought and one that Lawrence sadly realizes as his life starts crumbling in the wake of reality. But with this realization, the film also revels the beauty of this individualistic appreciation, and why movies are such a beautiful thing. Everyone derives meaning from watching a film in their own way, and even though movies don’t always bring people together, this collective appreciation of cinema on an individual level still serves as a binding force. The film is able to capture the beauty behind this solitude of the cinematic experience in a manner that is just as unique as the quirky characters inhabiting the film itself.

Cinema as a lifeline – but not necessarily a saviour

Make no mistake, cinema is championed as something of vital importance in I Like Movies. But unlike many other odes to the art form, Levack veers away from painting cinema as a lone saviour to solve all of life’s problems. It’s true that Lawrence primarily relies on movies to find his purpose in life, and without it, would even be more lost than he already is. Yet, it’s also clear in the film that cinema isn’t what ultimately saves Lawrence from his tumultuous woes. If anything, him stepping away from his love for cinema and venturing outside his rather isolating comfort zone becomes his saving grace in the end.

Lawrence’s love for film will likely always be one of – if not the – most important thing in his life, but his affection for it isn’t romanticized in an unrealistically Hollywood-esque manner. I Like Movies almost draws an awkward correlation between one’s love for cinema with love itself, and revels in how the imperfections that define such relationships are what makes it so special and perfect. The oddity of loving something wholeheartedly, yet also acknowledging its limitations, helps ground a film meant to celebrate an artistic medium that is far too often used as a means of escapism.

Final Thoughts

Through some very effective quirky deadpan humour, and endearing performances from both Lehtinen and D’Ugo, I Like Movies manages to strum all the right cords in a truly unique celebration of cinema itself. In many ways, I was almost hoping for a more traditional ‘magic of cinema’ moment in the film’s third act, and on some level, think that it would’ve amped up the film’s final emotional notes. But staying true to the film’s central thesis of individualistic appreciation for cinema itself, Levack evades this trope and crafts something that never deviates from her own singular creative vision.

I Like Movies is available digitally. 

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