SXSW Review: Chelsea Devantez’s ‘Basic’ Is a Smart, Hilarious Comedy About Modern Dating

It doesn’t take much—just a scroll. One post leads to another, and suddenly a version of reality begins to take shape. What’s visible, what’s missing, what feels intentional. Basic leans into that tension, exploring how quickly we can spiral between reality and expectation, the mind games we create in relationships, and that all-too-familiar pattern of self-sabotage we’re all guilty of—even if we’re not always willing to confront it. In doing so, writer-director Chelsea Devantez reveals something that’s anything but basic.

That spiral comes into focus through Gloria, with Ashley Park capturing the all-consuming nature of a thought that refuses to let go. What begins as a quiet insecurity—her boyfriend Nick (Taylor John Smith) never posting about their relationship—quickly escalates through a small but loaded detail tied to his ex, Kaylinn (Leighton Meester), taking on more meaning than intended. From there, Gloria fixates on his past, diving into his previous relationships, with Kaylinn becoming the center of that fixation. Park never misses a beat, carrying Gloria through a full spectrum of emotion—moving from that initial unraveling into sharp humor and flashes of anger, before settling into something more vulnerable as she’s forced to confront her own insecurities. After imploding her relationship, that obsession pulls her offline and into Kaylinn’s world, where an impulsive decision to confront her at a trivia night sets the stage for an unexpected connection. Meester, in turn, delivers one of the film’s most compelling performances, effectively playing two versions of Kaylinn—the one constructed through Gloria’s assumptions and the woman she actually is. She moves seamlessly between the two, revealing her own complexities as the night progresses. As their dynamic shifts from rivalry to something more honest, the film begins to unpack the assumptions both women have been living with—and the truths they’ve been avoiding.

Chelsea Devantez brings a clear, confident voice to Basic, building the film around the inner dialogue and psyche of her characters in a way that feels almost uncomfortably familiar. Through heightened, imagined sequences, she explores the space between reality and expectation, allowing those internal thoughts to take shape on screen without losing their emotional grounding. Comedy is notoriously difficult to get right, but Basic consistently lands its humor, with dialogue that feels both sharp and instinctive. At the same time, Devantez weaves in flashbacks that anchor the story, adding depth to both Gloria and Kaylinn while offering a clearer understanding of the experiences that shape them. It’s that balance between heightened perspective and emotional clarity that makes these characters not just relatable, but genuinely easy to root for.

Taylor John Smith makes a strong impression in what marks one of his first major forays into comedy, delivering the kind of performance that makes you wonder why we haven’t seen him in this space more often. He brings a grounded earnestness to Nick, adding dimension to a character who could have easily been one-note. There’s a simplicity to the way Nick moves through his relationships, where what feels harmless—or even humorous—to him doesn’t always translate that way to others. Smith leans into that disconnect with ease, allowing the character to feel both genuine and, at times, frustrating in ways that ring true. Surrounding them is a supporting cast that brings energy and warmth, with Kandi Muse, Ashley Nicole Black, Amber Ruffin, and Nelson Franklin creating a sense of community that feels lived-in and authentic. They lean fully into the film’s heightened tone—at times unhinged and even a little raunchy—with a commitment that brings a smile to your face, expanding the world while reinforcing its exploration of connection—not just through romance, but through the friendships that help define us.

What makes Basic resonate isn’t just its humor or heightened scenarios, but the way Chelsea Devantez captures something deeply recognizable beneath it all. There’s an honesty in how the film explores self-worth, female friendship, and the narratives we construct when we’re left alone with our thoughts—especially in a world where perception can so easily blur with reality. Devantez never judges these characters for the places they go, instead allowing them the space to grow, confront the versions of themselves they’ve been holding onto, and move forward with a clearer sense of who they are. It’s a film that feels both specific and universal in its observations—one that invites audiences to laugh, reflect, and maybe even recognize a piece of themselves along the way. In a story so rooted in overthinking and emotional extremes, Basic ultimately reminds us that those feelings—and the journeys they take us on—are anything but.

★ ★ ★ ★ ½ out of 5