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Someone Great (2019) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Someone Great (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 92 min · English
Echo score 59
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Directed by
Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Starring
Brittany Snow, Faith Logan, Rosario Dawson, DeWanda Wise, Lakeith Stanfield, Jaboukie Young-White
Budget
$5M

After a devastating breakup, music journalist Jenny decides to spend one last, wild night in New York City with her two best friends. Together, they navigate the challenges of change and loss, confronting the end of a significant chapter in their lives and embracing new beginnings amidst the city's energy.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (2)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Someone Great
  8. 8 Every angle
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3 main characters · contains spoilers

Someone Great Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Someone Great (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Jenny Young (Gina Rodriguez)

    Jenny is a passionate and determined music journalist facing an emotional upheaval as her long-term relationship ends. Her journey reflects a mix of vulnerability and resilience as she navigates her heartbreak with the support of her friends. Jenny's story is one of self-discovery amidst the chaos of life changes.

    • 🎤 Journalist
    • 💔 Heartbroken
    • 😢 Vulnerable
  • Blair Helms (Brittany Snow)

    Blair encapsulates the struggles of modern relationships, battling her own insecurities while trying to support her friend. Her character embodies the journey of realization as she confronts her expectations in love. Despite her cheerful demeanor, she grapples with deeper issues related to her romantic connections.

    • 📱 Social Media Manager
    • 🥰 Supportive
    • 🎭 Emotional
  • Erin Kennedy (DeWanda Wise)

    Erin represents the complexities of unexpressed feelings within friendships and romantic entanglements. As a hesitant real estate agent, she struggles with her emotional maturity and her relationship with Leah. Her evolution in the story exemplifies the importance of honesty and communication in relationships.

    • 🏡 Real Estate Agent
    • 💞 Conflicted
    • 🌱 Growing

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:33

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Setting

Where and When Does Someone Great Take Place?

The setting of Someone Great (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Location

New York City, San Francisco, Sony Hall, Washington Square Park

New York City serves as the backdrop for Jenny's emotional journey, filled with vibrant culture and a fast-paced lifestyle. San Francisco represents her dream career, a symbolic fresh start she longs for. Notable locations include Sony Hall, a concert venue where friends seek joy amidst sadness, and Washington Square Park, a significant spot that embodies Jenny and Nate's romantic history.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🎶 Concert
  • 🌳 Park

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:33

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2 major themes

Someone Great Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Someone Great (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Heartbreak

    The theme of heartbreak runs deep through the narrative as Jenny deals with the aftermath of a nine-year relationship. This emotional struggle is echoed in her friends' personal dilemmas, showcasing how love can complicate friendships. Ultimately, they find solace in each other, highlighting the healing power of companionship.

  • Friendship

    The importance of friendship is central to the story, as Jenny's friends rally around her during a difficult transition. Their collective experiences and challenges strengthen their bonds, proving that true friends will support each other through thick and thin. Their adventures together serve as a reminder that friendship can provide the strength needed to move forward.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:33

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Character & theme questions

Someone Great Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Someone Great (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

What role does New York City play in the movie?

New York City serves as the primary backdrop for Jenny's emotional journey. The film's fast-paced, vibrant energy mirrors her state of mind during this difficult transition. Key locations include Sony Hall, where Jenny and her friends seek joy through music, and Washington Square Park, which represents her romantic history with Nate.

  • new york city setting
  • nyc locations
  • sony hall
  • washington park
Q2

Why is San Francisco important to Jenny's story?

San Francisco represents Jenny's dream career opportunity, a symbolic fresh start she longs for after her breakup. It serves as the counterpoint to New York City, representing the new chapter she's about to begin rather than the past she's leaving behind.

  • san francisco
  • job opportunity
  • fresh start
  • career
Q3

What are the main themes in Someone Great?

The movie explores two central themes: heartbreak and friendship. Heartbreak runs deep as Jenny processes the end of a nine-year relationship, while friendship serves as the healing force that helps her move forward. The film shows how these themes intertwine, her friends rally around her during this difficult transition, proving that companionship can provide strength during loss.

  • heartbreak
  • friendship
  • themes
  • healing
  • loss
Q4

How does the movie handle the theme of heartbreak?

Heartbreak is the emotional core of the story, depicted through Jenny's struggle after her nine-year relationship ends. The film doesn't shy away from the pain but balances it with comedic moments and the support of friends. It shows heartbreak as a universal experience that can be processed through connection rather than isolation.

  • heartbreak
  • breakup
  • emotional struggle
  • healing
Q5

What does Someone Great say about friendship?

The film emphasizes that true friends support each other through life's hardest moments. Jenny's two best friends rally around her during her breakup, and their collective adventures strengthen their bonds. The movie portrays friendship as essential to healing, providing the strength and perspective needed to embrace new beginnings.

  • friendship
  • best friends
  • support
  • loyalty
  • companionship
Q6

Who is Jenny Young in the movie?

Jenny Young, played by Gina Rodriguez, is a passionate music journalist whose nine-year relationship has just ended. She embodies both vulnerability and resilience as she navigates this painful life change. Her journey is one of self-discovery, learning to find closure while embracing new opportunities.

  • jenny young
  • gina rodriguez
  • music journalist
  • protagonist
Q7

Who is Blair Helms in Someone Great?

Blair Helms, played by Brittany Snow, is one of Jenny's best friends. She embodies the struggles of modern relationships, battling her own insecurities while supporting Jenny. Despite her cheerful demeanor, Blair grapples with deeper issues related to her romantic expectations and personal fulfillment.

  • blair helms
  • brittany snow
  • best friend
  • relationship struggles
Q8

Who is Erin Kennedy in the movie?

Erin Kennedy, played by DeWanda Wise, is Jenny's other close friend and works as a real estate agent. She represents the complexities of unexpressed feelings within relationships, struggling with emotional maturity and communication. Her character arc highlights the importance of honesty in friendships and romantic connections.

  • erin kennedy
  • de Wanda wise
  • real estate agent
  • emotional maturity
Q9

What is Jenny's career in Someone Great?

Jenny is a music journalist, which ties her professional life to the cultural heartbeat of New York City. Her career ambition is reflected in her desire to move to San Francisco for a dream job opportunity, a representation of the new beginning she's pursuing after her breakup.

  • music journalist
  • career
  • job
  • profession
Q10

What is the tone of Someone Great?

The film has a bittersweet tone, balancing the heavy sadness of a significant breakup with hopeful energy and strong comedic elements. While the subject matter is emotionally weighty, the movie ultimately offers an uplifting resolution focused on growth, friendship, and new beginnings rather than despair.

  • bittersweet
  • tone
  • comedy
  • romance
  • emotional

Movie threads

More Movies Like Someone Great, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Someone Great tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

One Last Night of Cathartic Friend Therapy like in Someone Great

Movies where a single, transformative night out with friends leads to emotional healing. Movies like Someone Great that capture the magic and melancholy of one last, wild night out with best friends. If you loved the blend of bittersweet emotion and celebratory joy as Jenny and her friends navigate her breakup, you'll find similar stories of friendship-driven healing and self-discovery here.

  • cathartic
  • friendship-driven
  • nightlife
  • melancholic
  • uplifting
  • nostalgic
  • Tone: bittersweet, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, contained
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread often unfold over a compressed timeline, typically a single night or weekend. The central conflict is an emotional turning point—a breakup, a departure, a personal failure—that the protagonist must process. The narrative is driven by the group's adventures, which blend comedic misadventures with deep, heartfelt conversations, leading to a sense of catharsis and acceptance by the dawn.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their unique structure and emotional core: the use of a 'one last night' premise to explore themes of friendship, change, and resilience. They share a consistent balance of heartfelt sadness and uplifting joy, with friendship as the central force for healing.

Bittersweet Breakups and Hopeful New Beginnings like in Someone Great

Stories where the end of a relationship opens the door to self-discovery. If you liked Someone Great's nuanced take on Jenny's breakup, this thread collects similar movies about heartbreak that focus on growth. Discover films where the end of a relationship is bittersweet, blending sadness with a hopeful outlook on new careers, friendships, and self-discovery.

  • bittersweet
  • breakup
  • self-discovery
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • cathartic
  • Tone: bittersweet, reflective
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a protagonist reeling from the end of a significant relationship. Rather than seeking immediate reconciliation, the story focuses on their journey toward closure and independence. The conflict is internal—grappling with grief and identity—but is supported by external forces like friends or a new environment, leading to an ending that is sad for what was lost but optimistic for what lies ahead.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their specific emotional mix: they balance the genuine weight of a breakup with a forward-moving, hopeful energy. The tone is consistently bittersweet, avoiding pure despair or overly simplistic happy endings, and the focus is on emotional maturity and self-reliance.

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Movies Like Someone Great

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Every angle

Someone Great (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Someone Great in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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