Podtalk: Dave Franco & Alison Brie of ‘Somebody I Used to Know’

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CHICAGO – How about a precisely done comedy of romance in time for Valentine’s Day weekend? Prime Video presents “Somebody I Used to Know,” a collaboration between a real-life married couple … director/co-writer Dave Franco (“The Rental”) and co-writer/lead actor Alison Brie (“GLOW,” “Mad Men”).

Alison Brie portrays Ally, a reality show TV host whose series is cancelled, and she is left without direction after this attempt to make it in show business. She decides to go back to her hometown to recharge, and meets her old lover Sean (Jay Ellis), who is about to get married to Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons). After a spark is set off again with Sean, Ally sets out to somehow break up the marriage, and ignites all the problems associated with that goal. “Somebody I Used to Know” streams on Prime Video beginning February 10th.

“DaveAllison"
Dave Franco and Allison Brie of ‘Somebody I Used to Know’
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com

Dave Franco was born in Palo Alto, California, and envisioned a career teaching creative writing after graduating from the University of Southern California. It was the manager of his brother James who encouraged him into a theater class, and he made his acting debut on the TV series “7th Heaven” in 2006. He built a solid resume of character roles in films such as “Superbad,” “21 Jump Street,” “Neighbors” and the “Now You See Me” series. “Somebody I Used to Know” is his second directorial effort, after the well-received thriller “The Rental” (2020) … also featuring Alison Brie.

Alison Brie is one of the brightest and most memorable young actors of the post millennium. Born in Hollywood, she enhanced her theater studies at the California Institute of Arts with a year at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. After making her debut on “Hannah Montana” in 2006, she made a major splash as Trudy Campbell on the legendary series “Mad Men” and did high concept comedy at the same time on the TV sitcom “Community.” She’s done notable character roles and voiceover work in films/TV series like “The Five-Year Engagement,” “Promising Young Woman,” “The Lego Movie,” “Bojack Horseman” and GLOW.

Franco and Brie met in New Orleans during Mardi Gras in 2011, and were married in 2017. Besides collaborating on “The Rental” and “Somebody I Used to Know,” they acted together in “The Disaster Artist” in 2017.

In Part One of a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, co-writer/director Dave Franco and co-writer/lead actor Alison Brie talk about the creation of “Somebody I Used to Know” …

In Part Two, of collaboration-in-marriage and insights on “Mad Men” …

Trailer for “Somebody I Used to Know” …

”Somebody I Used to Know” streams on Prime Video beginning February 10th. Featuring Alison Brie, Jay Ellis, Kiersey Clemons, Danny Pudi, Haley Joel Osment and Julie Hagerty. Written by Dave Franco and Alison Brie. Directed by Dave Franco. Rated “R”

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2023 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

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