I Feel Fine (2025) Review – A Heartbreaking Portrayal Of A Young Man’s Struggle With Mental Illness
“I Feel Fine” lulls you into the sense that this will be like any other coming-of-age movie, leading to the gut punch of realizing this is a film that may not have a happy ending.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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Plot Summary
Ozzy is a teenager living in the rural part of the city with his parents and two siblings. One day, while hanging out with his two best friends, he thinks about jumping off the bridge. It’s a random, intrusive thought, but it ends up being the first of many.
This is despite Ozzy seeming like a happy, “normal” kid from the outside. But as time goes on, thoughts become actions, and everyone goes from seeing Ozzy as the light of the room to someone who needs to be checked on not only because of what he has gone through but also because of what he may do to himself.
Character Descriptions
Ozzy (Elijah Passmore)
Ozzy is a teenager who seems like your average guy. He likes hanging out with his friends, talking about girls, being silly in class, and hanging out with his dad, working on and talking about cars. But chemicals in his brain make dark thoughts happen, and at points, they overwhelm Ozzy enough to act, leaving him and those around him worried.
Mia (Nandi Summers)
Mia is new to Virginia and has already caught Ozzy’s eye. The feelings are reciprocal; with him supporting her dreams of becoming a filmmaker, things are off to a good start.
Everett (Braeden Sorbo)
Everett is one of Ozzy’s best friends who appears to be bisexual.
Dru (Blake Amadeo)
Dru is the quieter member of Ozzy’s friend group and is closer to Ozzy than Everett.
Review
Our Rating (83/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)
Highlights
The Rollercoaster Ride It Sends You On
When “I Feel Fine” starts, you see Ozzy and best friends Everett and Dru hanging out, contemplating a prank they will do at school. This sets the vibe of “I Feel Fine” as a coming-of-age story where each finds love, and then there is prom, graduation, and important, emotional moments in between. Be it the possibility of Ozzy’s parents having an argument that goes too far, maybe Ozzy having his first girlfriend through Mia, etc.
This is not what happens in “I Feel Fine.” As noted in many a preview and warned when you start the film, suicide ideation and the depiction of such is part of this movie. With that, you go on the roller coaster Ozzy and his loved ones are on where you go from hearing the darkest thoughts to thinking Ozzy is just fine, potentially in love, and back again.
It’s a lot to watch, and it honestly chips away at you and helps you get into the mindset of Ozzy as he tries to fight these intrusive thoughts, as well as his family, who have to listen out for any little sound that could be a sign Ozzy has done something to hurt himself again.
I didn’t cry throughout the film, but when I tell you, I was drained by the end because of knowing people who committed suicide, and while by no means triggered, it felt like that old weight tried to crawl on my shoulders and hitch a ride.
The Absence Of Phones Makes Everyone Seem So Present
For most of the movie, you may think this takes place in the 1980s or 1990s since you don’t see a cell phone. In fact, if it wasn’t for the mention of Ariana Grande and modern artists, you wouldn’t know “I Feel Fine” takes place in modern times. But, not seeing cell phones out, even if the exclusion seems odd, helps you understand how present everyone could be without them.
For example, the flirting between Mia and Ozzy is notable and cute because there is no phone medium. You see them look at each other and smile, awkwardly have conversations until they find their rhythm, and it makes you all the more invested in Ozzy getting the right medication, the right therapist, and having enough good days and thoughts to expand on this good thing for him.
The Dark Humor
Now, any movie about teens and suicide could push the idea this is going to be like “13 Reasons Why” or other morose shows, but “I Feel Fine” doesn’t take that route. While Ozzy’s parents are very careful about what they say and do, his friends joke about his attempts. It’s a bit of lighthearted dark humor, assuming those words together make any sense, that especially comes from Dru and reminds you that people with mental illnesses can joke about what they are going through. It doesn’t have to be a touchy subject.
Yes, there are hard days when the last thing you need is something trying to make light of a heavy subject. Yet, there are also many when you want your struggles treated at the same level as having acne, eczema, or being socially awkward. It’s a trait you struggle to control and would love to no longer have, but you can’t. So, accepting it, joking about it, and everyone learning how to navigate it, for better or worse, makes it easier to live with.
Film Details
Runtime: 1 Hour 48 Minutes
Release Date: January 10, 2025
Initially Available On/Via: Digital
Advisory Film Rating: Not Rated
Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Young Adult
Distributor(s): Entertainment Squad, Spicer Productions
Director(s): Austin Spicer, Hailey Spicer
Writer(s): Austin Spicer, Hailey Spicer
Content Information
- Dialog: Cursing
- Violence: Self-Harm
- Sexual Content: None
- Miscellaneous: Smoking
External Links
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