The Getaway Crew

The second of director, singer/songwriter, and actress Mariah Morgenstern’s feature films in 2025. It is difficult to write a comedy with serious undertones that is not only painfully relatable but also uplifting and inspiring. Oliver Merrill and Amanda Dewland, who both play roles in the film as Owen and Claire, bring us a story about misfits, all broken in their own ways, and hell bent on taking the world on by themselves and throws them into a situation where they have no choice but let their guards down. It’s reminiscent of Perks of Being A Wallflower meets the Breakfast Club. We see an unconventional group of people go on roadtrip led by a therapist who is trying to keep it all together. Ambitious, unexpectedly profound, and a breath of fresh air in a time where movies are lacking the desire to make an audience feel something. Morgenstern brings the script to life with moments of genuine laughter, sadness that grabs and pulls you in through the screen, and several sequences that bring the whole movie together. Her direction made sure you could see pieces of yourself in every single character and that, is no easy task. The fluid and non-stop humor and unlikely bonds made through a series of wild events are met with real life themes of identity, mental health, the quest for purpose, and the reality that its important to let your guard down and give people the chance to see the real you. It was inspiring and one of the most meaningful films I’ve seen this year.