Writer/director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s Someone Great focuses on love, friendship and surviving a failing relationship. It stars Gina Rodriguez as Jenny, a young woman going through a traumatic breakup with her longtime boyfriend Nate, played by sexy Lakeith Stanfield. Fortunately, Jenny has two best friends (portrayed enthusiastically by Brittany Snow and DeWanda Wise), who care for her and try to help their pal through this crisis before she leaves to start her dream job far away from New York City.

Rodriguez already has many fans because of her delightful acting in TV’s Jane the Virgin. This appealing actress shows considerable talent for comedy and projects a great deal of charisma on the big screen. Snow, Wise and Stanfield also deliver believable performances in their key roles here. However, much of the dialogue in this rom-com seems sketchy and peppered with too many crude comments. At times, I wondered if I was watching a rom-com or a Quentin Tarantino offering.

Although admiring filmmaker Robinson’s emphasis on diversity, friendship, and the power of women to overcome a breakup, I wish her movie spent more time with serious conversations instead of showing characters drinking, taking drugs, and acting like out-of-control teens when they are closer to 30 years old.  

On a positive note, it’s a treat to see the close female friendships depicted in this film. Clearly, these three women know each other’s faults but love each other anyway -- possibly even because of those same faults. 

Jenny and Nate: in love nine years.

So being dumped must end with tears.

Someone Great deals with Jenny’s ache.

Was her decision a mistake?

Offered a San Francisco job,

she has to move away. Oh sob!

Two friends share with her party night

in great New York before her flight.

Flashbacks show former happy times

with sex and drugs and fashion crimes.

F-words fill most every scene.

But friendship reigns. And that is keen.

NOTE: For any readers going through a breakup, here are three quotes that might help you cope. You’re welcome.

A little party never killed nobody --- Fergie

Just because a relationship ends, it doesn’t mean it’s not worth having. --- Sarah Mlynowski

You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one. --- Cindy Davis

(Released by Neflix and rated “R” by MPAA.)

For more information about Someone Great, go to the IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes website.