SXSW’s Basic, from writer/director Chelsea Devantez, is anything but. This darkly hilarious gem takes an incredibly basic-sounding premise and elevates it around every turn. Two women. One ex boyfriend. Two completely different points of view. On paper, Basic could be a bare-bones indie footnote. Instead, the cast—particularly Leighton Meester and Ashley Park—and a sharp script transform the simplicity into a hilarious, brutally self-aware movie about modern dating, love triangles, and the trap of comparison. A lesser film would have found a rhythm in putting these two women to battle, fervently fortifying to fight for their god-like man. In Basic, the females of the story hold the power, wielding a sharp prejudice against one other despite each being unique and headstrong. Meester and Park are the glue holding it all together. Funny, self-aware, and emotionally grounded, Basic circles its powerful messages of self-worth with biting humor.
Gloria (Park) seems to have the perfect life. A budding career, a cute apartment, and very hot boyfriend, Nick (Taylor John Smith), to go along with it. There’s just one problem: Nick’s vapid ex-girlfriend, Kaylinn (Meester). When Gloria notices that he recently friended Kaylinn on Instagram, she spirals. How could Nick be so obsessed with someone so… basic? Their breakup happens in the first five minutes of the film, leaving the ultimate question: what’s next? As Gloria’s Kaylinn obsession compounds, she heads straight to the source for the ultimate bitch-fight confrontation… or so it would appear.
Kaylinn’s perspective flips the script, telling an entirely different story. Though Gloria views her as self-obsessed and extremely performative, the reality could not be further from the truth. In fact, to Kaylinn, it’s Gloria who has the perfect life. The gear-shift that happens has a difficult task, drawing a neat line in the sand that only adds to the previous knowledge we have about the situation. While the first act mostly focuses on Gloria and her narration, Devantez’s clever script allows Kaylinn to steal the attention. Meester’s charismatic performance fleshes out Kaylinn far beyond caricature. She receives even further texture with a tight-knit group of friends that include RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Kandy Muse in a scene-stealing performance. But make no mistake: Basic belongs to Meester and Park.
The approach to what could be a simple love triangle on paper speaks volumes of the female voices behind the camera. Too often in traditional Hollywood cinema, we simply see two women pitted against one another. After a while, this becomes exhausting— are they really doing all that over a man? Basic dodges every chance to deliver lowest common denominator humor, instead opting for subtlety and clever writing. It approaches potentially difficult subject matter through relatable self-deprecation. Devantez also shows that some of these feelings are universal. In a way, we all feel like we aren’t good enough. Comparison to others is a dangerous road to travel. While Basic avoids following the darker edges, it succeeds in its deconstruction of female relationships.
The film shines brightest when Gloria and Kaylinn interact. What begins as tension gradually softens into genuine connection. Their unexpected friendship becomes the emotional core of the story, reframing the narrative away from the traditional love story. At the same time, Basic never loses its comedic edge. Moments like Nick’s painfully awkward attempt at a grand romantic gesture lean into absurdity while reinforcing how out of sync he is with both women. Taylor John Smith probably gets the least to do performance-wise, but as the standard eye candy, he nicely fits the bill.
By the end, the message becomes crystal clear. The real love story isn’t about winning Nick, but reclaiming self-worth and discovering lasting bonds in the process. Gloria and Kaylinn’s evolving friendship feels more meaningful than any romantic resolution the film could offer. Carried by the power of dual performances from Meester and Park, Basic evolves into a lovable chick flick that’s far cuter than any Instagram filter could offer.
Basic screened at 2026’s SXSW Film & TV Festival.
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