“Alison and I, we adore romantic comedies,” director Dave Franco told Shadow and Act of Alison Brie, who plays Ally. “The ones we were really inspired by are classics from the 80s and 90s. Pretty Woman, My Best Friend’s Wedding, When Harry Met Sally, those types of films. We really wanted to kind of use what we know and love about the genre to lead the audience down a certain path and then try to pull the rug out from under them every step of the way.”

While a traditional love triangle usually has two people going after the same person, in Somebody I Used To Know, Franco explained that “all sides are going after each other, which makes it super messy and kind of exciting and complicated.”

Ally begins to reminisce about the life that she had with Sean (Jay Ellis), which she admits was intentional to explore what sentiment that a person managed to be “the one who got away” really is all about.

“We were really fascinated by this idea of the one that got away and kind of wanted to debunk that myth a little bit,” said Brie. “Like, why do so many of us suffer from [a] sort of relationship amnesia?  There are clear reasons why you break up with a person and then the minute you get lonely, suddenly you miss them, they were perfect [and] the relationship was perfect.”

While a traditional love triangle usually has two people going after the same person, in Somebody I Used To Know, Franco explained that “all sides are going after each other, which makes it super messy and kind of exciting and complicated.”

Throughout the film, Sean’s new love, Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons), holds a mirror to Ally, forcing her to face the woman she tucked away when she set out to chase her dreams.

“For Ally, Cassidy reminds her of herself and not just who she used to be, but that person still exists inside of her and it’s kind of like reflecting on an old relationship,” Clemons explained.  “You start to fill it in, you’re fantasizing about it, and I think when she actually witnesses it and sees that person in front of her, it’s easier to maybe grasp the reality of the situation, which is– ‘I do want to make these changes in my life,'” she said.

Ellis says his character is proof that no matter how much we plan, life will always just do its on thing.

“I’m a big believer that life is about the journey, not the destination,” said Ellis. “I think part of [Sean] understanding that Cassidy is the person that he’s meant to be with and love and spend the rest of his life with is…he needs to go through that because he needs to understand that he has to let go a little bit to let her have her life and let her do the things that she wants to do. And also realize that she’s a part of his plan, but she gets to plan that as well… it’s not just his plan anymore.”

Somebody I Used to Know is now streaming on Prime Video.

Watch the full interview with Ellis, Franco, Brie and Clemons above.