Ramona at Midlife is the story of, well, Ramona (Yvonne Woods) at Midlife. She, like just about everyone that’s come before her, has found that her life at this point in time is unflattering. Her marriage is falling apart, her personal relationships aren’t what they used to be, and she’s recently found out that all of this is the subject of a movie that’s soon to be released. While she’s frustrated with the fact that someone would use her life as content without her permission, she is now forced to face the truth about herself and do something about it.
There’s something about Ramona (and Woods) that’s so appealing. She’s just normal. She looks normal, she sounds normal, and her life is pretty…you guessed it, normal. There’s nothing spectacular about Ramona, and I think that’s what appeals to viewers. I love seeing larger-than-life characters on screen, because even in all of their glory they manage to be human–but Ramona is different. Ramona at Midlife isn’t trying to tell a story so far-fetched, so outside of the realm of possibility that viewers are lost–and they use this incredibly simple character to lead the way. She’s simple, familiar, and the best possible subject for a film that tries to appeal to the everyman.
There are some instances in which Ramona at Midlife reaches a tad too far, and I don’t fault it for trying to be something bigger from time to time. Sure, it needs to separate itself from the multitude of other films that have come before it that play out in a similar fashion–but Writer-Director Brooke Berman knows that the film needs to remain grounded for the most part. It needs to be a film in which people can see themselves, appreciate the content and the characters, and ultimately learn something. Ramona at Midlife is just a larger narrative version of the titular character–and it continues to appeal to viewers throughout its majority.
What I think Ramona at Midlife does better than anything else is expressing the mundane. Again, both the character and the narrative depict simplicity–mirroring the real world in a number of ways and allowing viewers to appreciate the content. The visuals also play a role in this. From the opening moments everything (beyond Ramona) looks the part. The set design, the cinematography, and more work together to create something familiar and accessible. Ramona at Midlife makes sure to adhere to this standard throughout, refusing to overstep its purpose in the grand scheme of the production–and it seems that Berman and her team have a firm grasp on how to execute their vision–and that’s abundantly clear throughout.
Every once in a while viewers need to sit down and watch a film that just feels familiar, a film where they’re able to look like that Leonardo DiCaprio meme where he points excitedly at the screen after recognizing something. That’s what Ramona at Midlife is to the world. It’s a film that will cause viewers to see themselves and their surroundings time and time again. That’s the film’s purpose, and it delivers at every turn.
Written & Directed by Brooke Berman.
Starring Yvonne Woods, Joel de la Fuente, April Matthis, Zarah Mahler, Alysia Reiner, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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