SXSW '26: Basic

Being a single woman in today’s dating scene is a tough hang. Even once you work through a nightmare carousel of bad Bumble matches and unfortunate set-ups from well-intentioned friends and find someone you really connect with, old wounds and insecurities often resurface to threaten the stability of what could be a strong relationship. This is the premise of writer/director Chelsea Devantez’s comedy, Basic. The film follows Gloria (Ashley Park) as a woman who becomes obsessed with her new boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend, Kailynn (Leighton Meester). Gloria’s obsession causes her to spiral and threaten what could otherwise be a great relationship. The film is a hilarious and hyperbolic analysis of modern dating, female friendships, and self discovery. It leans into the fantasy of what is the best possible outcome of meeting your boyfriend’s ex, and it takes audiences on a genuinely joyful journey of what happens when two women try to bring out the best in each other. 

The narration-reliant film begins with Gloria doomscrolling through her boyfriend Nick’s (Taylor John Smith) Instagram and obsessing over his ex-girlfriend, Kailynn who she deems “hot” and “basic”. She’s outgoing, fashionable, sexy, and everything Gloria thinks she isn’t. Our protagonist sinks into despair thinking that Nick isn’t really over her and she picks a fight with him. In a classic case of two characters not communicating about what the real problem is, the fight escalates and Gloria storms out. Their breakup is imminent. So, Gloria does what a lot of girls do when they go through break-ups, and she decides to get drunk at the bar. Except the bar she chooses to go to is the one where Kailynn is hosting trivia night. Gloria intends to get drunk and figure out what is so special about this “basic bitch” who wants to steal her man. 

The opening act of the film is all about Gloria and her life and struggles with dating. We hear only her voice-over as she shit-talks Kailynn and accuses her of trying to ruin her relationship. It’s clear that she’s an unreliable narrator who is working through some deep personal problems, but the audience sympathizes with her nonetheless. Who amongst us hasn’t been intimated by a partner’s ex? It brings up insecurities and makes us focus on all the ways we don’t measure up to the hotter and cooler girls of the world. It’s a vulnerable and isolating experience. Gloria’s spiral is easily relatable for so many people and it’s a great entry point into the movie, but it’s not the whole story. 

Once Gloria goes to the bar and encounters Kailynn, the narration shifts. We now get to hear Kailynn’s side of the story and it casts a new light on the situation. Kailynn is a struggling stand-up comedian who battles commitment issues. She indulges in self-destructive tendencies that cause her to not reach her professional aspirations or keep a relationship over three months. She is also a very funny person who has a strong group of friends that she cares for deeply. She is a very different woman than who Gloria thinks she is, because of course she is. Instagram is all posturing, anyway. 

Gloria ends up getting too drunk at the bar and confronts Kailynn. It seems like things are about to go from bad to way-worse, but instead the movie chooses to believe in the power of female friendship and takes us on an unexpected journey. What could be a bad situation actually turns into a very sweet, almost-magical night-long encounter for the two women when Kailynn decides to help Gloria sober up and get her home. Kailynn introduces her to her wonderful and hilarious friends (Kandy Muse, Ashley Nicole Black, Kenzie Elizabeth) and they all get Gloria to open up and be more confident with herself. Kailynn’s character acts as basically a hot, cool fairy godmother who helps Gloria realize she needs to be a better communicator and more honest with herself if she wants to have successful relationships. At the same time, this midnight journey through town helps Kailynn realize she needs to be more pragmatic about her own goals and take leaps if she wants to be a successful comedian or have a quality, long-term relationship.

The whole thing is absolutely far-fetched, but that’s exactly why it works. Devantez’s script doubles down on the idea that women are better when they work together, even under ridiculous circumstances. It’s also just a joy to watch all these actors play off each other. Meester and Park have great chemistry playing women going from rivals to almost-friends. They’re funny, biting and sweet in all the right ways and it really makes you root for them as they try to discover their best selves. Likewise, the troupe of actor-comedians playing Kailynn’s friends are hilarious and keep the jokes up even when the script leans into its more saccharine aspects. Coming in at around 90 minutes, Basic is a joyful, funny ride that highlights all the lunacy of modern dating and female relationships. It’s absolutely worth a watch for anyone looking for a great comedy with a lot of heart and even more jokes. I can’t wait to see what Devantez does next.

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