Tribeca Film Festival 2026 Review: “Never Change!”

By Morgan Roberts

Director: Marty Schousboe
Writers: John Reynolds
Stars: John Reynolds, Sofia Black-D’Elia, Carmen Christopher, Jo Firestone, Gary Richardson, Nate Varrone, Roberta Colindrez, Jackie Cruz, John Early, Ana Gasteyer, Topher Grace, Patti Harrison, Steve Little
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2026

“Never Change!” follows a group of 30-somethings who are forced to return to high school after it is discovered their class did not meet all necessary graduation requirements. Directed by Marty Schousboe, “Never Change!” is unfortunately a juvenile comedy that has more groans than laughs.

Returning to finish out their senior year, class valedictorian Amelia (Jo Firestone) feels as if she doesn’t have much to show for the past 20 years of her life. Meanwhile Tedi (Carmen Christopher) sees this as an opportunity course correct after he spent much of his formative years as a troublemaker. Likewise, Curtis (Gary Richardson) seeks to redefine himself, and reconnect with Amelia. High school sweethearts Sunny (John Reynolds) and Katie (Sofia Black-D’Elia) find themselves rekindling their relationship despite Katie’s engagement Mark (Rudy Pankow).

John Reynolds an Carmen Christopher in “Never Change” | Tribeca Film Festival

The film has an interesting premise. Would you fall into old patterns if you could revisit high school 20 years later? There is something fascinating about the ways in which we find ourselves fall into old routines and roles when we are back in our hometowns or our childhood friend groups. Sadly, this film only approaches this exploration on a surface level. Instead, it aims to recapture the sophomoric at best comedy movies of the aughts. Everything about its attempts at comedy are reductive and puerile. It feels like its plot points are half-baked with nonsensical storylines which detract from anything that could be interesting in this movie. There is a whole plot point about a serial killer that is simply baffling and some aliens through line that is quite frankly inane. The movie focuses on a two week period where this group of adults finishes out their senior year. We get glimpses of dynamics, but much of the interpersonal conflict feels cyclical until there are moments of miraculous and not at all earned. More often than not, the film feels like a regurgitation of ideas rather than putting forth a new interrogation of that time period, or rather revisiting that time period with two decades of life between those moments.

“Never Change!” is clearly attempting to capture the nostalgia of the films millennials grew up on without the recognition that many of those mid-aught comedies have aged like milk. In an attempt to recapture that glory, “Never Change!” demonstrates how shallow that brand of comedy can be. Sadly, none of the characters are memorable, and even when it attempts to have some emotional resonance, its core feels hollow and superficial. The movie boasts an impressive cast, and it largely doesn’t know what to do with them. It is frustrating to watch this movie because it has a talented ensemble who is given next to nothing interesting or nuanced to do. And entertainment for the sake of entertainment would be just fine if the comedy was actually funny. But “Never Change!” never finds its comedic footing or emotional core, resulting in a slog.

Grade: D-
Double Feature With: “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (1982) dir. Amy Heckerling