Written and directed by Spencer Zender, in 1985, a seemingly quintessential Southern California teen’s identity unravels as he’s forced to choose one of his 3 fathers’ last names before he comes of age. Starring: Ryan Winn, Allison Byrnes, Nick Schultz, Talia Mychael Blaney, Theodore Newton, Daniel Abraham Stevens and Lucas Coleman.
While experiencing a personal crisis about having three different fathers may sound very Mamma Mia, don’t fret there is no impromptu singing or heavily ladened cheese to be found in What’s My Name Again? Instead, it falls quite nicely into the coming-of-age category, with a well-chosen foray into how our family feed into our identity. It was a great choice Spencer Zender to explore the importance of parental figures and how much meaning can be found in a name.
It mixes some classic teenage brooding and angst with family strife and a search for who you are. However, it can feel like a bit too much brooding at times, finding itself caught in a repeating pattern rather than moving forward. The pacing of the film does tend to meander, it spreads itself out a bit further than it needed to. Part of that feels like, while the direction and writing is solid, it’s missing a bigger personality to drive things.
There’s a sweet and entertaining heart to What’s My Name Again? but while things can get a little raucous at times, that energy never truly feeds into the film, it plays things fairly evenly. Although, it does feel like there’s plenty of influences from Valley Girl to Dazed and Confused, and the film does a great job creating the feel of the 1980s. As well as including some great natural shots of the beach which have plenty to offer.
The performances are also great throughout, Ryan Winn leads the way by making Bo hugely sympathetic and relatable. He has a superb relationship with Allison Byrnes who plays his mother, they’re a great example of that special connection between a single mother and her son. It’s filled with banter and honesty, which is enjoyable to watch. Nick Schultz is a big factor in the film’s sweetness, he fills his character with warmth and sensitivity which is lovely to see. Talia Mychael Blaney also plays the classic girlfriend, flirtatious, envious and lovingly supportive.
What’s My Name Again? is an entertaining coming-of-age outing, bringing together a ragtag bunch to explore a very unusual childhood and confusing entry into manhood. It’s a nice foray into the idea of identity and how much a name can truly mean to our identity. It has a good amount of warmth and sweetness, while never becoming cheesy. It can move quite slowly, getting its feet tied up a little in going over the same ground but there’s something comforting about it. Throwing back to teen dramas of the 1980s, with a more wholesome feel rather than trying to be ultra-modern and brash.
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