Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Straight Up (2020) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Straight Up (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 95 min · English
Echo score 73
JustWatch #7,910 11
Directed by
James Sweeney
Starring
Randall Park, Tracie Thoms, Betsy Brandt, Brendan Scannell, Dana Drori, Hillary Anne Matthews
Budget
$300K

Todd is a highly articulate and obsessive-compulsive gay man in his twenties, grappling with a fear of dying alone. This fear leads him to question his sexuality, leading him to believe he might not be gay. His life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Rory, a clever and struggling actress who also battles her own insecurities. The two form a unique and engaging relationship characterized by constant conversation but a surprising lack of physical intimacy, as they navigate their individual anxieties and search for connection.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (2)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Straight Up
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Straight Up (2020)

Where can you watch Straight Up? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Kanopy, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

2 main characters · contains spoilers

Straight Up Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Straight Up (2020), 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.

  • Todd

    A twenty-something from Los Angeles with OCD who struggles with intimacy due to an aversion to bodily fluids. He experiments with dating women after largely dating men, grappling with commitment and acceptance. His friends in Los Angeles oppose the relationship, interpreting it as internalized homophobia. He pursues a relationship with Rory, culminating in a grand romantic gesture.

    • 🧠 OCD
    • 💞 Romance
    • 💭 Introspection
  • Rory

    played by Katie Findlay

    A struggling actress who has trouble emotionally connecting with others. She meets Todd in a library's self-help section and quickly moves in with him, joining his house-sitting work. She considers the idea of children and later relocates to Seattle, testing the strength of their relationship. After a break, she is offered a chance at a long-term commitment, but ultimately declines Todd's proposal.

    • 🎭 Drama
    • 💬 Communication
    • 🌟 Ambition

Last updated: January 20, 2026 at 17:11

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does Straight Up Take Place?

The setting of Straight Up (2020): 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

Present day

Set in contemporary times, the film mirrors modern dating, therapy, and personal growth within urban environments. The action moves between Los Angeles and Seattle, with a Christmas party acting as a turning point for the relationship. The overall vibe is grounded in current social attitudes toward sexuality, identity, and nontraditional relationships.

Location

Los Angeles, Seattle, Library self-help section

Los Angeles serves as the initial backdrop where Todd's life unfolds, showcasing the city's fast-paced, film-industry-driven environment. The story shifts to Seattle, where Rory pursues acting and their relationship deepens amidst a new city setting. A library's self-help section becomes a pivotal meeting point, highlighting themes of growth, connection, and self-discovery.

  • 🏙️ Urban Los Angeles
  • 🗺️ Seattle
  • 📚 Library self-help section

Last updated: January 20, 2026 at 17:11

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

Straight Up Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Straight Up (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Romance

    Todd and Rory's relationship challenges conventional boundaries as they navigate attraction, intimacy, and commitment. Their bond grows through late-night conversations and shared humor, showing love can emerge across differences. The film explores sexuality as a spectrum and how partnerships adapt when identities evolve. Relationships are tested by external judgments and internal doubts, yet connection remains central.

  • OCD & Anxiety

    Todd's OCD shapes dating choices, from discomfort with bodily fluids to fear of vulnerability. Anxiety and loneliness push him toward a relationship with Rory, even amid uncertainties about long-term compatibility. The film treats mental health with sincerity, balancing humor with realistic struggles. Therapy and self-reflection play a role in Todd's attempts to grow.

  • Identity & Acceptance

    The story challenges traditional norms about sexuality and relationships through Todd and Rory's evolving bond. External judgments from friends and internal doubts about who they are create tension, but the characters pursue authentic connection. Acceptance is portrayed as a personal and relational process, not just a label. The ending offers hopeful momentum toward genuine intimacy beyond conventional expectations.

Last updated: January 20, 2026 at 17:11

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

Straight Up Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Straight Up (2020): 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

Where does the movie take place?

Straight Up is set primarily in Los Angeles, where Todd lives, and later shifts to Seattle, where Rory pursues her acting career. A significant meeting point is a library's self-help section, which becomes important to their relationship.

  • los angeles
  • seattle
  • setting
  • locations
Q2

What time period is the film set in?

The film is set in the present day, reflecting modern dating, therapy culture, and contemporary attitudes toward sexuality and identity in urban America.

  • present day
  • contemporary
  • time period
  • modern
Q3

What are the main themes explored in the movie?

The movie explores three core themes: the complexity of romance and unconventional relationships, the impact of OCD and anxiety on intimacy, and the journey of identity and self-acceptance regarding sexuality.

  • romance
  • ocd
  • anxiety
  • identity
  • acceptance
  • themes
Q4

Who is Todd in the movie?

Todd is a twenty-something gay man from Los Angeles who struggles with OCD and has an intense fear of dying alone. His OCD manifests as an aversion to bodily fluids and difficulty with vulnerability, which complicates his romantic relationships.

  • todd
  • character
  • ocd
  • gay
  • protagonist
Q5

Who is Rory in the movie?

Rory is a struggling actress who has trouble emotionally connecting with others. She meets Todd in a library's self-help section and becomes his romantic partner, later moving to Seattle to pursue her acting career.

  • rory
  • katie findlay
  • actress
  • character
  • love interest
Q6

How does the movie portray OCD and mental health?

The film depicts Todd's OCD as a genuine part of his identity, showing how his fear of bodily fluids and vulnerability affects his dating life. The movie treats mental health with sincerity, balancing humor with realistic portrayals of anxiety and the role of therapy in personal growth.

  • ocd
  • anxiety
  • mental health
  • therapy
  • portrayal
Q7

What does the film say about sexuality and identity?

Straight Up explores sexuality as a spectrum, showing Todd's journey questioning whether he might not be gay. The film portrays identity as fluid and evolving, challenging traditional norms while emphasizing that acceptance is a personal process rather than just a label.

  • sexuality
  • identity
  • gay
  • spectrum
  • lgbt
  • acceptance
Q8

Why is the library important in the story?

The library's self-help section is where Todd and Rory first meet, making it a pivotal location that symbolizes their shared journey of self-discovery and personal growth through conversation and intellectual connection.

  • library
  • self-help
  • meeting
  • setting
  • significance
Q9

What makes Todd and Rory's relationship unusual?

Their relationship is defined by constant conversation and deep intellectual connection, yet surprisingly lacks physical intimacy. Both characters grapple with their own intimacy issues, Todd's OCD and Rory's emotional detachment, creating a bond that challenges conventional romantic expectations.

  • relationship
  • intimacy
  • unconventional
  • connection
  • romance
Q10

How does the film handle themes of acceptance?

The film portrays acceptance as both a personal and relational process. Todd faces external judgment from friends who see his relationship with Rory as internalized homophobia, while both characters battle internal doubts about who they are and what they want.

  • acceptance
  • judgment
  • friends
  • internal doubts
  • personal growth
Q11

What genre is the movie?

Straight Up is a comedy and romance film that blends witty banter with earnest exploration of mental health and sexuality. The humor score is high due to the clever dialogue, while the romance score is also prominent since their unconventional relationship is the core of the story.

  • comedy
  • romance
  • genre
  • tone
  • humor

Movie threads

More Movies Like Straight Up, by Mood & Story

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

Witty Romance Without the Physical like in Straight Up

Character-driven stories where intellectual connection replaces physical intimacy. Find movies like Straight Up that explore relationships built on intellectual chemistry over physical intimacy. These films feature sharp dialogue, neurotic characters, and a focus on emotional connection, perfect for viewers seeking romances that challenge conventional storytelling.

  • talkative
  • introspective
  • neurotic
  • unconventional
  • tender
  • anxious
  • Tone: bittersweet, witty
  • Pacing: steady, conversational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows characters who form a deep, often unconventional, bond rooted in conversation and shared neuroses. The central conflict revolves around their internal anxieties and the societal pressure to conform to a traditional romantic or sexual dynamic, leading to a journey of self-discovery about intimacy.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a core focus on intellectual and emotional intimacy as the driving force of romance. They balance witty, talk-heavy scripts with a bittersweet tone, exploring themes of loneliness, identity, and the search for connection in a non-traditional format.

Anxious Minds Navigating Intimacy like in Straight Up

Stories about characters grappling with fears of connection. Discover films like Straight Up that delve into the lives of anxious, self-aware characters struggling with intimacy. If you enjoyed the nuanced exploration of OCD and sexuality in Straight Up, you'll find similar thoughtful and character-driven stories here.

  • anxious
  • introspective
  • lonely
  • unconventional
  • tender
  • quirky
  • Tone: bittersweet, introspective
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern focuses on a protagonist grappling with a specific internal struggle that acts as a barrier to intimacy. The plot unfolds through their attempts to connect with others, often leading to unconventional relationships that force them to confront their fears and redefine what connection means for them.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their deeply character-focused exploration of anxiety and its impact on relationships. They share a moderate pacing that allows for introspection, a medium emotional weight that balances seriousness with humor, and an ambiguous or bittersweet feel reflective of life's complexities.

If you liked this

Movies Like Straight Up

Similar movies to Straight Up: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Straight Up (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Straight Up 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app