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You Again
Five women, four of them are holding pictures of the other women that have been torn in half.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAndy Fickman
Written byMoe Jelline
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDavid Hennings
Edited byDavid Rennie
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byWalt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures
Release date
  • September 24, 2010 (2010-09-24)
Running time
105 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$20 million[2]
Box office$32.1 million[3]

You Again is a 2010 American comedy film directed by Andy Fickman and written by Moe Jelline. The film stars Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Odette Yustman, James Wolk, Victor Garber, Billy Unger, Kyle Bornheimer, Kristin Chenoweth, and Betty White in her final live-action film acting role before her death in 2021.

The film was released on September 24, 2010, by Touchstone Pictures to be poorly received by critics and it earned $32 million against a production budget of $20 million. It was the last solo Touchstone Pictures project before working on subsequent films in association with Miramax, DreamWorks, South African films, Studio Ghibli and Lucasfilm. As a result of this, Touchstone signed a deal with DreamWorks Pictures in 2011, starting with I Am Number Four.

Plot

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In 2002 in the fictional town of Ridgefield, California, awkward teenager Marni Olsen is bullied by popular girl JJ. Marni's protective brother, basketball star Will, is oblivious to JJ's behavior, even when JJ sabotages the team's crucial win by pushing the mascot-clad Marni into him.

Eight years later, Marni is a successful public relations executive in Los Angeles, and has been recently promoted to her firm's New York City office. She returns home for Will's upcoming wedding to a woman named Joanna, whom she has never met, and later learns is JJ. To Marni's chagrin, her family adores Joanna, who appears to not remember her. Marni and Will's mother Gail also discovers that Joanna's beloved aunt Ramona, a wealthy businesswoman paying for the wedding, is her former high school best friend.

Marni refrains from telling Will about Joanna's past. A series of mishaps have Marni resembling her high school self, further distressing her. Marni realizes that Joanna does remember her when Joanna deliberately plays the song she used to torment Marnie with in high school. Resolving to save Will from Joanna, Marni retrieves a video from the time capsule she buried during senior year, which displays Joanna's hostile behavior toward her and other students. Meanwhile, Gail and Ramona reconcile, though Ramona still seems unhappy with her.

At the bridal shower, Marni privately confronts Joanna. Joanna finally admits she remembers her, but neglects to apologize, instead cautioning Marni to not interfere with her and Will's relationship. Now more determined than ever to protect Will, Marni invites Joanna's ex-boyfriend Tim as her date to the rehearsal dinner. During toasts, Tim embarrasses Joanna by announcing that she left him at the altar on their wedding day. The time capsule video is then played, shocking and confusing all the guests, especially Will, who leaves.

Marni insists Joanna hasn't changed, though Joanna remorsefully claims she had pretended to forget Marni so they could start over. The two fight until Will intervenes, scolding them both before storming out and calling off the wedding. Ramona then calls Gail out for overshadowing her in high school and stealing her crush, Richie Phillips. During their argument, they fall into the pool, but ultimately reconcile. Gail's husband and Marni's father, Mark, grounds both Marni and Gail.

That night, Marni finds Joanna tearfully binge eating in her wedding dress. Joanna finally apologizes for bullying Marni, insisting that she changed after her parents died as she hoped to become someone they could be proud of, and explaining that she pretended not to know Marni because she feared her past would cost her Will and his family. Marni forgives her, promising to mend Joanna's relationship with Will. Marni later apologizes to Will, insisting she was only trying to protect him.

Joanna and Will reconcile in the family's old tree house, but because their younger brother Ben had loosened the screws, it collapses, injuring them and forcing a hospital stay which delays the wedding. However, Marni arranges a wedding at the hospital. Gail surprises Ramona with Richie, and they start a relationship while Marni starts one with Charlie, her brother's best friend.

Joanna reintroduces her grandmother, Bunny, to Bunny's high school rival, Helen. Bunny finally gets revenge by stealing Helen's dance partner, while Helen swears that the game is not yet over.

Cast

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Music

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Production

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You Again was completed on April 3, 2010. The rivalry between the two grandmothers, Betty White and Cloris Leachman, is a reference to the conflict between the two on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.[citation needed] Three of the cast members from the sitcom Step by Step (Patrick Duffy, Staci Keanan, and Christine Lakin) appeared in the movie in a "mini-reunion".

Reception

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Critical response

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Sigourney Weaver was praised by critics for her performance.

Rotten Tomatoes gives You Again an approval rating of 20% based on reviews from 92 critics, with an average score of 4.00/10. The critical consensus reads: "You Again represents a rare opportunity to see some of Hollywood's finest female veterans together onscreen – and, unfortunately, wastes their talents almost completely."[4] On Metacritic, it had a weighted average score of 28 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[5] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.[6]

Jamie Lee Curtis and Kristen Bell were praised for their roles. The New York Times critic Stephen Holden wrote that "There is not a laugh to be found in this rancid, misogynistic revenge comedy," declaring "Like so many Disney movies, 'You Again' exalts shallow, materialistic values, then tries to camouflage its essentially poisonous content with several layers of sugar coating and weepy reconciliation."[7] Richard Roeper gave the film an F and stated that it was one of the worst movies he had ever seen.[8] Among the more favorable reviews was Lana Berkowitz of The San Francisco Chronicle, who wrote that she enjoyed the mix of slapstick, musical numbers and surprise cameo appearances.[9] Bill Goodykoontz of The Arizona Republic praised the cast for taking "a by-the-numbers comedy" and making it better than it has any right to be.[10]

Box office

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The film opened at the box office at No. 5 with $8,407,513 and would go on to gross a domestic total of $25,702,053; with an international gross of $6,303,195, You Again grossed $32,005,248 worldwide;[3] against a $20 million production budget.[2]

Accolades

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Award Category Nominee(s) Result
Women Film Critics Circle Awards 2010[11] Hall of Shame "For perpetuation of the same-old same-old stereotypes of hysterical insecure women and reasonable, sage men." Won
Young Artist Awards 2011[12] Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor Billy Unger Won

Home media

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The film was released by Touchstone Home Entertainment in a two-disc Blu-ray and DVD combo pack on February 8, 2011.[13] Bonus features include deleted scenes, bloopers, and a question-and-answer (Q&A) feature entitled Ask the Cast.[14]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
You Again is a 2010 American film directed by and written by Moe Jelline. The film follows Marni Olson, a successful executive who returns home for her brother Will's wedding only to discover that his fiancée, , is her high school bully; complications ensue as Marni attempts to expose Joanna's true nature, while a parallel rivalry emerges between their mothers, Gail and Ramona, who were adversaries in their youth. Starring as Marni, as , as Gail, as Ramona, Jimmy Wolk as Will, and featuring supporting roles by , , and , the movie was produced by and distributed by . With a budget of $20 million, it grossed $32 million worldwide upon its theatrical release on September 24, 2010, and runs for 105 minutes, rated PG for brief mild language and rude behavior. The film's centers on themes of high school grudges resurfacing in adulthood, blending humor with family dynamics and redemption arcs. Critically, You Again received mixed reviews, earning a 20% approval rating on based on 92 reviews, with critics noting its formulaic approach despite the strong ensemble cast. On , it holds a 5.8 out of 10 rating from over 56,000 users. The movie's , featuring contemporary pop tracks, complements its lighthearted tone, and it later became available for streaming on platforms like Disney+.

Story and Characters

Plot

Marni Olson, a successful executive played by , returns to her hometown after a decade away to attend her brother Will's wedding. Upon arriving, she is horrified to discover that Will's fiancée is Joanna Erwin, formerly known as J.J., the head cheerleader who relentlessly bullied her throughout high school. Flashbacks depict the torment Marni endured, including public humiliations and orchestrated by Joanna and her , which left lasting emotional scars. Determined to protect her brother from what she believes is Joanna's unchanged manipulative nature, Marni launches a series of covert efforts to expose her during the wedding preparations. These include digging into Joanna's past, staging awkward encounters, and subtle sabotages like spilling wine on her dress at a gathering, all of which backfire and portray Marni as the instigator. Meanwhile, a parallel subplot unfolds between the older generation: Marni's mother, , who runs a played by , reunites with Joanna's aunt, , a wealthy businesswoman played by . The two women, who were bitter high school rivals—Ramona having stolen Gail's boyfriend decades earlier—rekindle their feud amid the festivities. Tensions escalate during a cruise serving as the bachelor and , where and , after consuming too much alcohol, engage in a comedic poolside brawl that reveals their long-held resentments through shouted accusations and . Marni, grappling with her own vendetta, confides in Charlie, Will's best friend who has always been kind to her, leading to moments of reflection on personal growth and . Additional comedic elements arise from the feuding grandmothers, Bunny and Helen, whose petty arguments add layers of generational conflict to the household chaos. As the wedding day approaches, Marni's schemes culminate at the when an old high school video accidentally plays, broadcasting Joanna's antics to the entire family and causing a public confrontation. Joanna breaks down, confessing that her harsh behavior stemmed from personal tragedies, including her parents' death and family instability, and insists she has genuinely reformed. Touched by the vulnerability and Joanna's sincere apology, Marni forgives her and shares her own struggles, fostering a bond between them. After the reconciliations, Will and retreat to the family's old but are injured when it collapses (due to their younger brother loosening the bolts), forcing them to stay in and delaying the wedding. Marni organizes a makeshift in the hospital room. and reconcile, and reunites with her long-lost high school sweetheart Richie, who arrives unexpectedly. The film resolves with the successful union of Will and , family reconciliations across generations, and a celebratory in the hospital ward, emphasizing themes of letting go of past grudges and embracing second chances.

Cast

The principal cast of You Again centers on a family and their extended circle entangled in high school rivalries resurfacing at a wedding. Kristen Bell stars as Marni Olson, the protagonist and a successful public relations executive who uncovers that her brother's fiancée is her former high school tormentor, prompting her to seek subtle revenge while grappling with unresolved grudges. Jamie Lee Curtis plays Gail Olson, Marni's devoted mother who runs a bakery and initially urges her daughter to let go of the past, only to face her own high school adversary in the process. Sigourney Weaver portrays Ramona Radford, a glamorous and successful hotel magnate who is the aunt of the bride and Gail's longtime frenemy from their youth, adding layers of generational conflict to the family tensions. Odette Annable embodies Joanna Erwin (also known as J.J.), the poised but duplicitous antagonist and Marni's high school bully, whose hidden mean streak threatens to upend the wedding and family harmony. Victor Rasuk appears as Miguel, Marni's loyal best friend and co-worker, who provides and unwavering support amid the escalating drama. Supporting roles include as Mark Olson, the affable family patriarch; as Will Olson, Marni's protective older brother and the groom; as Grandma Bunny, Marni's grandmother; as Helen, Joanna's grandmother and Bunny's rival; as Charlie, Will's best friend and Marni's romantic interest; and as Tim, Joanna's ex-boyfriend.
ActorRoleCharacter Description
Kristen BellMarni OlsonProtagonist; ambitious PR exec confronting her bully past.
Jamie Lee CurtisGail OlsonMarni's mother; runs a , navigates her own rivalries while mediating family issues.
Sigourney WeaverRamona RadfordWealthy aunt and Gail's high school rival; embodies polished success with underlying pettiness.
Odette AnnableJoanna Erwin; the bride, Marni's former bully with a concealed vindictive side.
Victor RasukMiguelMarni's supportive best friend; offers humor and perspective on the feuds.
James WolkWill OlsonMarni's brother and groom; central to the family dynamics.
Victor GarberMark OlsonFamily patriarch; provides stability amid the chaos.
Betty WhiteGrandma BunnyMarni's grandmother; engages in petty rivalry with Helen.
Cloris LeachmanHelenJoanna's grandmother; Bunny's high school rival adding comedic generational conflict.
Sean WingCharlieWill's best friend; Marni's kind romantic interest.
Kyle BornheimerTimJoanna's ex-boyfriend; contributes to revelations about her past.

Production

Development

The screenplay for You Again was originally written by Moe Jelline, who drew inspiration from the enduring impact of high school experiences on adult life. Jelline noted her fascination with how "high school is a blip in your life—four years—and yet somehow the experiences stay with you forever," shaping the story around themes of past rivalries resurfacing at reunions. The project was set up at , a division of Studios, where it entered development as a centering on high school rivalries. In early 2009, director was attached to helm the film, marking his third collaboration with Disney following The Game Plan (2007) and (2009). Executive producers and Barry Bernardi oversaw the production alongside primary producers , , and Eric Tannenbaum, focusing on assembling a to blend humor with emotional depth. Casting began in April 2009 with announced as the lead, playing Marni Olson, a young professional confronting her past bully. Shortly thereafter, and joined the cast as Marni's mother Gail and the rival Ramona, respectively, bringing veteran comedic timing to the roles. The production received an initial budget of $20 million from , emphasizing efficient storytelling within a family-friendly framework.

Filming

Principal photography for You Again took place over 35 days entirely in the area, allowing the production to benefit from local tax incentives while capturing the film's suburban and urban settings. Filming locations included Burbank for studio interiors at Studios, Calabasas for exterior shots, for street and community scenes, Pasadena for hotel sequences, and for recreated high school environments. Specific sites featured 13000 Oxnard Street in as the high school, 732 Chapala Drive in Pacific Palisades as the family home, and various blocks in for ensemble gatherings. Key sequences, such as the wedding, were constructed on soundstages to simulate maritime environments. The film was shot by cinematographer David Hennings, whose work emphasized bright, saturated visuals to enhance the comedic tone and vibrant family dynamics. Director coordinated the through structured scenes that highlighted interpersonal tensions, with and collaborating closely on mother-daughter interactions.

Music and Soundtrack

Original Score

The original score for the 2010 comedy film You Again was composed by Nathan Wang. Wang, known for his work on family-oriented and lighthearted projects, crafted an instrumental soundtrack that supports the movie's humorous and reconciliatory narrative. The score employs a bubbly, upbeat orchestral style to enhance the film's comedic sequences and emotional resolutions, blending symphonic elements with playful rhythms. It was recorded during dedicated scoring sessions in 2010, prior to the film's theatrical release. No standalone album for the original score has been released; the music is integrated into the overall alongside licensed pop tracks. Specific cues, such as thematic underscores for character interactions, contribute to the film's energetic tone without overshadowing the dialogue-driven humor. The featured songs in (2010) primarily consist of licensed pop and rock tracks that amplify the film's themes of high school , family , and wedding festivities, often placed in party, dance, or confrontational scenes to heighten comedic energy and emotional resonance. These selections draw from 2000s and earlier hits to evoke the protagonist Marnie's teen years, with licensing coordinated through Disney's and associated labels to ensure broad commercial appeal. Key licensed songs include "We Are the Champions" by Queen, written by Freddie Mercury, which plays during a family bonding sequence to underscore themes of unity and overcoming past conflicts; the track is courtesy of Hollywood Records Inc. and EMI Records Ltd. under license from Queen Productions Ltd. "Barracuda" by Heart, written by Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Michael Derosier, and Roger Fisher, features in a high-tension chase or reveal scene, injecting rock intensity that mirrors the film's escalating rivalries. "" by energizes sequences, capturing the exuberant preparations and teen-era flashbacks with its upbeat hip-hop . " appears in moments highlighting deception and past bullying, using its seductive pop edge to parallel the story's interpersonal drama. "," a remastered version by & , plays during a flirtatious or reconciliatory interaction, adding a light soulful vibe to the elements. Additional tracks like "Kiss Me" by contribute to nostalgic dance floor scenes at the wedding, evoking innocent romance, while "We Are Family" by reinforces familial ties in group celebrations. "Who's Sorry Now" by is used in a reflective or apologetic context, tying into the film's redemption arc. These songs were chosen for their cultural familiarity and ability to punctuate the narrative's humorous and heartfelt beats, with all licensing managed via Disney's music partnerships to align with the production.

Release

Marketing and Promotion

Disney's marketing campaign for You Again centered on the film's ensemble cast of prominent actresses, including as the lead, alongside and , to appeal to audiences seeking a feel-good about family dynamics and unresolved high school grudges. The world premiere event took place at the in , on September 22, 2010, drawing cast members and industry attendees to build pre-release buzz. Promotional trailers played a key role, with the first official trailer debuting on on July 30, 2010, emphasizing the central "bully revenge" storyline where Bell's character confronts her former high school nemesis, now her brother's fiancée. Subsequent TV spots aired in the weeks leading to the September 24 theatrical release, featuring clips of comedic confrontations and chaos to target family and teen viewers. Internationally, the campaign included localized posters and early rollouts, such as in , where the film opened concurrently with the U.S. debut to capitalize on global interest in the comedy's relatable themes.

Box Office

You Again was released theatrically on September 24, 2010, by in a across 2,548 theaters in the United States and . The film earned $8,407,513 during its opening weekend, placing fifth at the domestic behind competitors such as Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps ($19 million) and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole ($16.1 million). The film ultimately grossed $25,702,053 domestically, representing 78.3% of its worldwide total of $32,838,945, with international earnings of $7,136,892. Produced on a of $20 million, You Again recouped 1.6 times its production costs at the but underperformed relative to expectations for a starring and , especially when compared to similar genre hits like The Proposal (2009), which earned $317.4 million worldwide on a $40 million . Factors contributing to its modest performance included stiff competition during its debut weekend and mixed critical reception, leading to a domestic multiplier of 3.06 (total domestic gross divided by opening weekend). The film's highest-grossing weekend was its opening, after which it experienced typical drop-offs for the genre, including a 32% decline in its second weekend to $5.7 million.

Reception

Critical Response

You Again received mixed to negative reviews from critics upon its release, with praise for the cast's efforts overshadowed by criticisms of its formulaic structure and lack of originality. On , the film holds a 20% approval rating based on 92 reviews, with an average score of 4/10; the consensus describes it as "a tired and formulaic comedy with few funny moments," featuring caricatures rather than developed characters. Similarly, assigns it a score of 28 out of 100 based on 25 critic reviews, reflecting "generally unfavorable" reception, where reviewers highlighted its predictable plotting and uneven tone. Critics frequently commended the on-screen chemistry among the lead actresses, particularly the mother-daughter dynamic between and , which provided moments of warmth amid the chaos. For instance, awarded the film 2 out of 4 stars, noting the actors' pluckiness despite being "stuck in a movie that gives their characters not even a chance at a human characteristic," and lamented its failure to embrace potential, resulting in clichéd scenarios. Variety's review echoed this, praising Bell's "wonderful comic timing and exquisite beauty" while criticizing director Andy Fickman's handling of the ensemble, which "swings from sappiness to cartoonish " and squanders talents like , whose role as the bully's mother feels underutilized in service of lazy setups. The Independent Critic highlighted the "comfortable, relaxed chemistry" between Curtis and Weaver, making their friendship and ensuing squabbles believable, though overall the film remains predictable. Thematically, reviews often pointed to the film's exploration of through and eventual as a high bully reenters the protagonist's life, but critiqued the overuse of the bully trope as clichéd and underdeveloped. observed that the wedding comedy "has no inherent laughs," forcing the versatile cast to struggle for humor in a convoluted that relies on disproportionate idiocy rather than sharp wit. The noted the premise's "kernel of promise" in addressing past traumas but found the execution baffling, with the bully dynamic devolving into soap-opera excess instead of meaningful commentary. Despite these shortcomings, some outlets appreciated the lighthearted , though the consensus leaned toward viewing it as a missed opportunity for a star-studded ensemble. Despite modest performance, the critical response underscored the film's reliance on familiar tropes without innovative execution.

Audience Response

The audience response to was generally positive but tempered, reflecting a more favorable reception than the film's critical consensus. Polled theatergoers awarded it a B+ , indicating solid if unexceptional word-of-mouth appeal among opening weekend crowds. On , the verified audience score settled at 43%, with over 50,000 ratings praising elements like the ensemble cast's chemistry despite acknowledging the plot's predictability. Similarly, user reviews averaged 5.8 out of 10 from more than 56,000 submissions, where many highlighted the film's lighthearted take on interpersonal conflicts as a redeeming factor. Fans particularly appreciated the relatable family dynamics and humor derived from longstanding rivalries, often citing scenes of awkward reunions and reconciliations as highlights that captured the lingering impact of high school experiences. The movie gained traction among teen viewers for its themes, portraying female protagonists who confront past bullies and reclaim their narratives, which resonated as an "exercise in female " in contemporary discussions. Online forums, including threads, frequently noted the comedic rivalries between characters like Marni and as a source of genuine laughs, contributing to its status as a feel-good family comedy. Its availability on streaming platforms like Disney+ has sustained viewership, evidenced by strong user ratings such as 4.6 out of 5 on from over 4,500 reviews, underscoring enduring appeal for casual, escapist viewing.

Accolades and Home Media

Awards and Nominations

You Again received a handful of awards and nominations following its release, primarily acknowledging its young cast member and musical elements, alongside a distinctive "Hall of Shame" recognition from women-focused critics. At the 32nd Young Artist Awards held in 2011, Billy Unger won the award for Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actor for his role as Ben Olsen. The film was nominated for Best Original Song – Feature Film at the 2010 Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA). In a more critical vein, You Again was named to the Women Film Critics Circle's 2010 "Hall of Shame" for perpetuating stereotypes of hysterical and insecure women through catfighting dynamics.

Home Media Releases

The home video release of You Again followed its 2010 theatrical run, with DVD and Blu-ray editions distributed by on February 8, 2011. These formats were available as a two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack in , featuring the film's 105-minute runtime. Special features on the discs included 11 deleted scenes with optional commentary by director , an audio commentary track with Fickman, , and , the "Blooper Dance Party" reel, and the featurette "Following Fickman: On Set with the Director." Additional extras comprised trailers and a . In the United States, the DVD edition sold an estimated 620,442 units, generating $10,547,412 in consumer spending. International variants were released in region-specific editions, including Blu-ray and DVD formats with subtitles in multiple languages such as French, Spanish, and German. Digital distribution began in 2011, with availability for purchase and rental on and other platforms. The film was added to Disney+ for streaming on October 12, 2020, and remains accessible there as of 2025, alongside options on services like and for purchase on Amazon Video and Apple TV. No 4K UHD remaster or special anniversary editions have been released by 2025.

References

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