by Robert Bouffard
I would venture to guess that most people who went to college had a feeling of homesickness when they first moved out of their home and into their first year dorm. I certainly had that feeling. It’s kind of low-hanging fruit in terms of relatability. This plays well into the hands of Sh*thouse, a coming-of-age romantic dramedy which follows Alex (Cooper Raiff), who is a homesick college freshman just trying to navigate the social climate of college.
This movie feels at the same time unique and familiar, and that is largely due to the special energy that Raiff is able to bring to the screen. He is the film’s leading actor, director, writer, and producer, and the movie really benefits from having this singular vision.
It starts off as a sort of awkward, Eighth Grade-esque story about this guy just trying to put himself out there in a brand new and unfamiliar environment, but it slowly evolves into something that feels inspired by Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise. After a failed attempt at meeting people during a frat party at a house literally called “Sh*thouse,” Alex befriends his R.A. Maggie (Dylan Gelula) and they spend the night going from one location to the next, much like Before Sunrise, and just having conversations about life.
During this section of the movie, Raiff and Gelula do a great job of diving into the psyches of their characters as they fall for each other. Alex is shy and extremely homesick, while Maggie can seem cold and happy to be away from home. It makes for a compelling juxtaposition because while they both have something to say and real, legitimate thoughts about the world, they are still able to learn a lot from each other. From there, the film follows an avenue that veers towards the unique after the fairly familiar setting of the first two acts. It all leads up to a gut punch of an emotional climax, which again works because of Raiff’s ultra competence.
This movie is Raiff’s first as a director and writer. While that at times detracts from the overall filmmaking or storytelling quality of the film, it adds to its heart and personality. It’s obvious that the movie wasn’t just made on a whim because somebody had the right connections. Raiff had something to say about growing up and finding where you belong, so he went out and made a movie about it. It gives the movie a special blend of rawness and sincerity that left me wanting more.
As a lover of Linklater’s Before trilogy, I felt like Sh*thouse was a spiritual prequel. It has so much to say about growing up, finding out who you are on your own, and finding out who you are in relation to those around you.
The biggest thing that the film has going for it is Cooper Raiff. It doesn’t feel overly burdened by any outside forces. The direction, writing, and acting all feel very intentional and from a specific vision. Raiff has stated in various interviews that the title has a double meaning – it’s the actual name of the house that Alex goes to at the beginning of the film (and never returns to), but it also describes the place he feels like he is at in life. So while it can certainly seem crass, it’s loaded with the movie’s meaning.
And that’s what it all comes down to: the movie’s meaning. It’s more than just a relatable film. It contextualizes the narrative and the feeling that so many of us have experienced of having to be in a new place for the first time without the immediate comfort of familiar family and friends. The movie acknowledges that it’s a scary place to be, but it’s also exciting. And as someone who strongly related to the main character, it was exciting to watch this movie. Life can feel like the movie’s title sometimes, but there are so many opportunities out there just waiting to be discovered.
Grade: A-