Set in the early-2000s, I Like Movies alternates between the double life of 17-year-old Burlington native Lawrence Kweller (Isiah Lehtinen) as an outspoken high school senior and an obsessive film buff at his local video store, Sequels Video.  Lawrence is an opinionated know-it-all under both roofs, but he feels more in his element at Sequels and is elated when they finally hire him on as an employee.

As a former video store clerk, I Like Movies hit a lot of personal notes that rang true.  But even though writer/director Chandler Levack provides humour with uncouth teenage etiquette, period sight gags, and Canadian easter eggs as well as a satisfying arc for Lawrence, this movie still doesn’t come together.  When the teen starts working at Sequels and gets into a spat with his best friend, I Like Movies coasts and stops being driven by either the workplace comedy or the character study based on Lawrence, buckling under the weight of heavier themes that are introduced later on.

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I Like Movies screens at TIFF on:

Friday, September 9 at 6:15 p.m. @ Scotiabank Theatre
Saturday, September 10 at 3:40 p.m. @ Scotiabank Theatre (Press & Industry)
Wednesday, September 14 at 6:30 p.m. @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Friday, September 16 at 9:45 p.m. @ TIFF Bell Lightbox

Language: English
Runtime: 99 minutes

For more information on the festival, visit the official TIFF webpage here.

Buy tickets here.

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