4.5 Out of 5 Stars
Ingrid Goes West opens in Philly this week and is Hatboro PA native Matt Spicer’s feature length directorial debut that takes an intriguing look at social media and just how influencers influence our lives. Adding another local to this mix, the film stars Wilmington, Delaware native Aubrey Plaza in a film that finally gives this severely underrated actor room to finally really show us what she’s truly capable of.

The film follows Ingrid (Aubrey Plaza), a troubled young woman from Pennsylvania who after the death of her mother has some issues discerning relationships on social versus #IRL. When the film begins she’s cashing out her inheritance to move to California to stalk her Instagram #BFF crush Taylor Sloan, played by a very blonde Elizabeth Olsen. Ingrid ultimately manages to cultivate a friendship with the influencer by kidnapping her dog and then using the poor pooch to buy her way into Taylor’s life. What happens amid a flurry of best friend selfies and Instagram worthy getaways is Ingrid discovers Taylor’s life is far from perfect and she’s not the person she is on her feed. When Taylor’s brother comes to town and introduces her to a more famous influencer, Ingrid gets unceremoniously tossed aside and things get real dark, quick.

While the film’s trailer and promotion seemed rather focused on the Talented Mister Ripley angle, much like Taylor’s insta-feed there is so much more going on here beneath the surface. While we do get the creepy, awkward Aubrey Plaza, which we all know and love, we also get to see a much different, unexpected side of the actor as well. Plaza portrays Ingrid as a lonely woman struggling with mental illness and trying to fill the void left after losing her mother who was her singular best friend. It’s that take on the character that Plaza could have easily phoned in to audience satisfaction, but instead she chooses to take you to some unexpected places. Plaza’s turn as Ingrid isn’t simply about pity, it’s about someone who is legitimately broken, knows it, and is trying to find acceptance.

Ingrid Goes West at its core deals with some very relevant themes. Specifically what the effect of being inundated with these all too perfect lives we see on through the social media mirror has on a person; not too mention someone troubled like Ingrid. To not only see that, but also attempt to live up to it can be a pretty tall order for anyone. This has our hero not only wanting to befriend Taylor, but then also live that instragram-worthy #blessed life, only to find it’s actually really expensive and a lot of work. We are all Ingrid as she falls into this world of influencers and slowly realizes what waits for her on the other side of the looking glass.

The film itself darts back and fourth between comedy and drama during a first act that afterwards feels like the film could go anywhere. Writers David Branson Smith and Matt Spicer did a great job at balancing this precarious story as to not go too far onto either side making sure that while it doesn’t lose its sense of humor while not getting too bleak, but also not making light Ingrid’s struggle either. I think while the film could have easily gone the more comedic route; it’s the how Director Matt Spicer manages to get something raw and very real out of Plaza that will surprise audiences and take them on a much different journey then they were expecting when they sat down. Plaza is a joy to watch on screen as we see her finally get a role she can really sink her teeth in that allows her to really show some real range for once.

Ingrid Goes West wisely goes the route of sincere tragedy as opposed to a parody of the evils of social media. Matt Spicer has given a surprisingly timely and relevant take on the struggle some face when it comes to showing their best-self as opposed to their real-self on our respective feeds. Like a really clever instagram post, Ingrid could easily be taken for face value or could be delved into to see the underlying themes at play here. It’s a film that will make you think for a second more before you hit post or share and may make you re-evaluate your social media #Brand altogether. A tragic fairly tale for millenials, #IamIngrid and so are we all.