If you’re familiar with director Josephine Decker’s past work, you might have a hard time believing she’s at the helm of the Sundance comedy “Chasing Summer”. It’s such a dramatic turn from what she’s done previously. And while it’s always commendable to see a filmmaker extending themselves in new directions, the messy misfire that is “Chasing Summer” proves that good results are never guaranteed.

While Decker’s struggles are noticeable, just as much (if not more) of the blame goes to the script, written by the film’s charismatic star, Iliza Shlesinger. Decker never seems to have a firm grasp on the material which starts off strong, but quickly begins to lose its way. It eventually craters thanks to a ludicrous late twist that leaves a plot hole the size of the Grand Canyon. It completely cuts the already wobbly legs out from under the story and its premise.

As mentioned, the film starts out strong by introducing us to Jamie (Shlesinger), a forty-something relief worker who is providing aide to tornado victims in Mississippi. While there, she’s informed by her boyfriend and co-worker that he’s breaking up with her after five years together. Forced to move out and with nowhere else to go, Jamie returns to her small hometown in Texas to stay with her parents over the summer.

The problem is Jamie doesn’t have the fondest memories of her hometown. She hasn’t been back in twenty years, which is when she left after an ugly breakup with her old boyfriend Chase (Tom Welling) led to vicious rumors that ruined her reputation all across their town. But now she’s back and forced to reconnect with her former life which includes old family, old friends, and her old fling.

The movie’s central theme of confronting your former life and re-evaluating your current one plays out in Jamie’s awkward reunions with the people from her past. The best of the lot are her parents, Layanne (Megan Mullally) and Randall (Jeff Perry) who perfectly fit the small town mold while delivering some great laughs. There’s also Jamie’s crass older sister Marissa (Cassidy Freeman) who owns a local roller skating rink. And her three gossipy classmates (Aimee Garcia, Lauren Aboulafia, Lindsey Moore), all married with children. And of course the hunky Chase who is still beloved around town.

But what begins as a screwball comedy throwback turns into something messy, generic, and in some cases utterly baffling. The kink in the storytelling comes when Jamie starts a steamy romance with a local named Colby (Garrett Wareing). He’s some twenty years younger and fresh out of high school, but that doesn’t stop them hooking up and making no real effort to hide it. Age-gap romances are nothing new. But here it’s handled like a clunky teen comedy. Even worse is the preposterous plot twist it leads to which gashes any chance of taking things seriously.

“Chasing Summer” is a head-scratching misfire that consistently seems at odds with itself. It’s a movie marked by early highs, late lows, and a flop of a finish that ends up being its death knell. Decker and Shlesinger’s collaboration begins as the kind of zany comedy anchored enough in the real world to resonate. It ends up being an indistinct and forgettable letdown that seems custom made for streaming. And it’s not the kind of reinvention you hope to see from a filmmaker like Decker.

VERDICT – 2 STARS