Directed by: Brandon Buczek
Starring: Nico Greetham, Piper Curda
World Premiere: Dances With Films, June 24, 2025
Venue: TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood
Running Time: Approx. 98 minutes
By Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/20/25 – In Something Casual, love isn’t dead—it’s just buried somewhere beneath ghosting, trauma, and way too many dating apps. Writer-director Brandon Buczek captures this chaotic emotional terrain with wit, authenticity, and piercing tenderness in a film that feels like the cinematic equivalent of a 2 a.m. heart-to-heart.
Set in the sun-soaked yet emotionally arid dating scene of Los Angeles, the film introduces us to Alex (Nico Greetham), a soft-hearted, idealistic artist clinging to the notion that real connection is possible. Across the algorithm, we meet Frankie (Piper Curda), a sharp, guarded cynic who considers romance “a chemical delusion.” It’s a meet-cute made in hell—or maybe just Silver Lake.
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Their initial hookup is awkward, fleeting, and far from fireworks. But what follows is something more complex: a slow unraveling of walls, philosophies, and pretenses. Buczek’s script gives room for silence, tension, and emotionally raw conversations that will hit far too close to home for anyone who’s ever wanted more than “something casual.”
The brilliance of Something Casual lies in its duality. It’s light and funny on the surface—filled with sharp dialogue, familiar dating app disasters, and LA satire—but underneath is a deep meditation on vulnerability, self-worth, and the emotional exhaustion of trying to be seen in a world that rewards performance over presence.
Nico Greetham is compelling as Alex, balancing earnestness with wounded pride. His performance avoids the trap of the “nice guy” trope, giving us someone who’s idealistic but not naïve. Piper Curda is equally magnetic, bringing a coiled intensity to Frankie that softens beautifully as her emotional armor slips. Together, their chemistry is jagged, real, and ultimately rewarding.
Visually, the film makes smart use of Los Angeles—not the glossy, aspirational version, but the real city: awkward coffee shops, empty sidewalks, neon-lit nights. Buczek’s direction embraces the mundane with poetic intimacy, making the emotional beats hit harder. Every shot feels like a text you almost didn’t send.
There are no grand gestures, no sweeping rom-com crescendos. Instead, Something Casual leaves us with moments—unfinished sentences, stolen glances, vulnerable pauses—that say more about modern love than a thousand swipes.
⭐ Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Something Casual is a heartfelt, sharply observed indie gem that speaks directly to a generation caught between craving connection and fearing it. Buczek has crafted a film that’s as much about emotional survival as it is about romance, with standout performances from Greetham and Curda. For anyone who’s ever asked, “What are we?”—this ones for you.
