Directed by Emily Lerer and written by leading actress Emily Nash, the day before her wedding, Judy (Nash), a self-proclaimed “Jew-ish” woman, tastes a piece of Jewish apple cake and is catapulted back in time to the day before her dreaded bat mitzvah in a reverse 13 Going on 30 Jewish nightmare. Also starring: Sheri Effres, Jonathan Fishman, Stephanie Sherry, John Noble Barrack, Ruari Marie and Tessa Michaelis.

Dealing with weddings, memories and nostalgia, you know that everything about Judy-ism is going to be swathed in a sentimental blanket and it is. The style and aesthetic immediately have that romantic comedy feel, the sweetness and lightness are strongly present. However, it does come with its drawbacks because leaning into that romcom-esque style can be limiting, preventing the film from hitting bigger, more sincere notes when at its heart there is a touching message of family, respect and heritage.

That core lesson about being aware, appreciative and thinking of the bigger picture is very wholesome. That 13 Going on 30 inspiration makes a lot of sense because it does hit a similar tone of family-friendly and women-centric comedy. It’s also great to see authentic Jewish stories, made by Jewish filmmakers, which is slowly becoming more common and mainstream today with recent films like Sammi Cohen’s You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.

Emily Lerer and Emily Nash do a fantastic job of switching up the eras with the throwback to Judy’s teen years. There’s a quick change in the style and tone, which creates a really nice separation between the two. As well as a solid eye for detail in the design and costuming when Judy-ism flings itself into the past.

In the same vein it’s great to see how consistent the performances are between Nash and Tessa Michaelis playing the younger version of her character. There’s a strong connection between the two of them and it’s quite a flawless transition back and forth. Both are funny, headstrong and determined, with just enough, but not too much, stubbornness that reliving her youth can open her eyes.

Judy-ism has a sweet, touching message but can fall too far into sentimental ground. It’s a tricky line to walk between wholesomeness and cheesiness, and Emily Lerer and Emily Nash do a good job but it’s missing something to push it further and hit a bigger note. It’s quite a simple story and exists within safe, family-friendly ground. That said, it’s shot well, it’s a delightful plot, the performances are charming, and it does a great job of moving through different eras.

Verdict: ✯✯✯½ | 7/10

Screened as part of HollyShorts Film Festival 2023
For more info visit emilyknash.com