WFG RATING: A

Written and directed by Kursten Moser and Ciara Naughton. Cinematography by Adam Coe. Edited by Kursten Moser.

Stars Jackie Romankow, Lee Keinan, and Meredith Brown.

This short may not look like a typical rom-com, but it all works out in the end for this young woman.

After dropping out of college, Jenny thinks she has everything figured out. However, she is mocked by her sister Lizzy because her parents have cut her off after they find her aspirations ridiculous. Jenny is forced to get a job and finds one at the local country club. She soon learns her boss is an old classmate, Darren. After some time, Jenny begins to become comfortable with her job and finds Darren as the source of venting out, which leads to a life-changing decision.

Set during the Y2K era, this film from directors Kursten Moser and Ciara Naughton doesn’t have anything strange to offer. No absurdities, no chaotic madness, no twists. This is a straight-up comedy that has the look and feel of a 90’s to 2000s romantic comedy and it is very pleasing to see as it also involves a change for the central character, as she goes from being a spoiled, nouveau-riche brat to someone who eats humble pie and realizes it is not about what you want, but how change can be good if you try hard enough.

Jackie Romankow is excellent as Jenny, our central character who has to look within herself and realize things are now what they used to be anymore. She expects things and the fact, she has a sister who tells it like it is in the opening minutes. This is the catalyst for the realization that spoiled brats will have to stop living off mommy and daddy and go off on their own.

Lee Keinan is really good as Darren as well. He goes from being a manager and according to Jenny, a loser from high school, to being possibly the one element she desperately needs to help change her life. Darren doesn’t take any lip and eventually becomes the shoulder she needs when she realizes what she needs to do to change. And knowing what this genre is, you know where this is going to go. As for Meredith Brown’s Lizzy, she is funny at times when mocking Jenny and acts almost as bad as Jenny because she’s the cheer captain. However, there is something that could eventually prove she may not need to rely on mommy and daddy after high school…something just seems sensible there.

The Way Things Used 2 B is a fun short film that is both a story about change and slowly delves into rom-com territory with a great cast driving the film. Definitely check it out!