I Used to Be Funny

Sam Cowell (Rachel Sennott, Bottoms, Bodies Bodies Bodies) used to be funny. She’s an aspiring stand-up comedian who used to spend her nights working the comedy clubs of Toronto and her days as an au pair for Brooke, a young teen struggling with the recent passing of her mother. Now Sam hides from the world, tormented by PTSD from an unseen event. Faced with the news that Brooke has mysteriously disappeared, Sam struggles with the choice to either help track down the missing teen or leave the past behind, get back on stage and start being funny again. Deftly combining dark comedy, mystery, and genuine pathos, I Used to be Funny, the debut feature from writer/director Ally Pankiw (Black Mirror, Schitt’s Creek), is an insightful exploration of grief and healing driven by a funny/heartbreaking performance from rising star Rachel Sennot. (Dir. by Ally Pankiw, 2023, USA, 105 mins., Not Rated)