Reviewed by Janie Kang
I guess I’m showing my age when I say I missed the boat in watching the LGBTQ short film hit, Aging Out, written and directed by the Canadian social media influencer, Breanne Williamson, who also wrote the clever short film Coming Out. I never keep up with the times; my kids laugh at me as I struggle to navigate the remote control if that tells you anything. Aging Out is a cute romantic comedy that made its debut at the Rio Theater in Vancouver around October 2023 and is set around the holidays. The main character Jenn (played by Breanne Williamson) is a lesbian charging towards 30. She just broke up with her partner Frankie who seemed to be “The One,” the perfect person from whom she felt the “puzzle pieces fit together.” Through a series of relatable scenes about the woes of dating as an “older” lesbian (especially a hilarious bathroom encounter), to unexpected surprises of self-discovery, we see Jenn navigating her quest for love with relatable awkwardness, fear, and uncertainty. Although the story had some predictable elements, it was so nice to see a queer romance take center stage rather than be the side character in this film.
While I liked the play on words of “aging out” and how it’s supposed to highlight the struggles and transitions we face in life as we get older, particularly when it comes to finding love, I was struck by the fact that most of the characters looked quite young. My old self was a bit disappointed. Jenn’s ex and their partner (Frankie and Jade) felt clunky and underdeveloped, and I wished they had more depth. With all the hype built up in the film of Jenn trying to get Frankie back, I thought, “So what, she seems kind of meh to me” versus, “Oh, I can see why you want her back so badly.” Maybe the characters were meant to be tropey, the film attempting to poke fun at itself given that the creator is a young social influencer, but it just made Jenn’s internal motivation less believable.
Yet, I enjoyed the short film and its very relatable queer quips. The humorous banter and comedic timing between Jenn and her friends made me laugh like someone had spiked my eggnog. I appreciated the bi inclusivity and one-liners. The dialogue was punchy, clever, and hilarious, although the charge faded for me a bit towards the last part of the film.
At times, I forgot that it was supposed to be a short film, and I found myself hungering for more from the plot and characters, which I think is a testament to the skill Breanne, cast, and crew brought to the table. The theme of letting go of societal norms of how one is “supposed” to be, not only within heteronormative standards, but also the boxes we place on ourselves within the queer community, was eye-opening and refreshing.
Thirty is the precipice from which humans seem to universally tip from “I’m cool, young, and will live forever” to “Whelp, this is as good as it gets; it’s all downhill from here.” Whatever precipice you are at with your age, this film reminds us to embrace the uncertainty of life. So, what are you waiting for? Maybe even break the norm and watch it off-season. Live on the wild side. Once we let go of the need to get to the finish line, we might just find unexpected surprises along the way.
Janie Kang (she/her) lives in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. You can often find her stuffing her face with popcorn, mascara running down her face, enthralled in cute, sarcastic rom-coms as she waits for Princess Charming to sweep her off her feet. Or at least attempt a dropkick.