Mile End Kicks Is the Perfect Double Feature with Netflix’s ‘Roommates’

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The third and final season of the once-popular teen drama recently premiered on HBO, bringing back many of its original stars. However, Barbie Ferreira, who previously starred in the series, did not return and has since found success in film. She now leads the cast of the heartwarming Netflix movie, Mile End Kicks, a charming story about growing up.

Barbie Ferreira is gaining recognition for her work in several films. She recently appeared in the horror remake Faces of Death, and starred in last year’s Bob Trevino Likes It. However, it’s Mile End Kicks that really highlights her talent. Fans are enjoying this charming independent film, and it pairs nicely with the director’s other recent comedy, Roommates, which is currently popular on Netflix.

Mile End Kicks Is Almost Famous Meets Frances Ha

Inspired by writer-director Chandler Levack’s own experiences as a young music critic, Mile End Kicks beautifully captures a specific moment in time and place – Montreal around 2011. The film is immersive, sweetly nostalgic, and immediately welcoming. Even viewers unfamiliar with Canada will connect with this charming, often humorous, and genuinely heartfelt story about the challenges of self-discovery when life doesn’t quite go as planned.

In the film, Barbie Ferreira plays Grace Pine, a 22-year-old music fan from Toronto in 2011. Grace goes to Montreal to write a book about Alanis Morissette’s iconic album, Jagged Little Pill. She soon feels lost in a new city. Ferreira delivers a relatable and charming performance as Grace, who is flawed and often makes questionable choices. This leads to some awkward, but funny, moments, while still keeping the character likable.

I was completely captivated by the actress’s performance – she’s so vulnerable, funny, and just genuinely real. Barbie Ferreira really makes her character, Grace Pine, feel like someone you’d want to be friends with – relatable and easy to root for. Even though Grace makes a lot of mistakes – some of them feel a bit unnecessary, honestly – you still can’t help but love her as she figures things out. It’s a testament to the performance that you stay on her side, even when she messes up!

Given its fantastic early 2010s soundtrack and story about a young music journalist, many viewers will likely compare Mile End Kicks to Almost Famous. The film acknowledges this, even displaying its poster early on – a clear signal that it welcomes the comparison to Cameron Crowe’s well-loved, autobiographical story of growing up through music and experience.

Though Mile End Kicks occasionally relies on predictable plot points, the screenplay by Chandler Levack consistently shows a knowing wink to the audience. This proves she’s a thoughtful and funny filmmaker, likely drawing from personal experience. She doesn’t judge her flawed characters, but rather understands that their imperfections are what make them who they are and allow them to grow.

Chandler Levack’s film strikes a great balance between a critical eye and a surprisingly understanding perspective, which is reminiscent of Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha. This comparison makes sense, as both films explore finding yourself in your twenties. Mile End Kicks would pair perfectly with Frances Ha for a double feature.

Chandler Levack is a rising filmmaker known for her sensitive portrayals of young Canadians navigating complicated lives. Her films often feature characters with big dreams, strong feelings, and a tendency to romanticize the future, as seen in her debut feature, I Like Movies, and her recent work, Mile End Kicks.

Levack’s ability to capture the uniquely personal, yet often relatable and awkward, experiences of young adulthood led to her creating Netflix’s Roommates. This show has brought her far more recognition than her previous two, smaller films ever did.

Netflix’s Roommates and Miles End Kicks Are the Perfect Pair

Unlike Chandler Levack’s earlier, more personal films, Roommates was made for streaming and designed to showcase Adam Sandler’s daughter, Sadie Sandler. Written by Jimmy Fowlie and Ceara O’Sullivan, it’s clearly a Happy Madison production. While this is Levack’s third feature film, she had less creative control and struggled to bring her own style to the project.

Compared to Chandler Levack’s previous, more gentle films, Roommates is a much more energetic, loud, and chaotic comedy. However, it still features genuinely touching moments and showcases Levack’s keen eye for detail. The film stands out with its honest portrayal of complex female friendships, a welcome change from the often male-focused comedies produced by Happy Madison. Even with plenty of silly humor, crude jokes, and exaggerated situations, Levack manages to bring a fresh and distinctly female perspective to the genre.

While not one of the strongest films from Happy Madison, Roommates doesn’t quite capture the heartwarming detail of director Levack’s earlier work. However, alongside Mile End Kicks, it forms a sweetly awkward and relatable pair of coming-of-age stories – perfect for a double feature, much like the film Frances Ha.

Mile End Kicks benefits from a talented young cast, with notable performances from Devon Bostick, Juliette Gariepy, and Jay Baruchel. Barbie Ferreira shines in the lead role, giving the personal and charmingly low-budget film a unique feel, all guided by director Chandler Levack’s sensitive approach. Since its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, the movie has consistently received positive reviews, currently boasting an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

It’s not surprising, though unfortunate, that this small, quiet film is getting lost in theaters. With so many big releases happening now, a low-key movie like Mile End Kicks was always going to struggle to find an audience. It probably wasn’t expected to be a blockbuster, to be honest. Considering the success Roommates is having on Netflix, it feels important to highlight the director’s other film, which is more personal and unique, even though it’s not receiving nearly as much attention.

Mile End Kicks Deserves More Love

It’s a little ironic and bittersweet that Mile End Kicks is considered the secondary project for both its lead actress and its director. This film is Barbie Ferreira’s other movie currently in theaters, and it’s also Chandler Levack’s second feature film, following Roommates. It’s not surprising that a quiet, heartwarming film like this one doesn’t get as much buzz as big-budget horror remakes or comedies produced for Netflix.

If you enjoyed Barbie Ferreira’s performance in her recent, thought-provoking film, or were a fan of Levack’s work in the latest Adam Sandler comedy, you should definitely check out Mile End Kicks. It’s a bit of a hidden gem – like discovering a great indie record tucked away in a record store. It might not immediately stand out, but it’s likely to win you over, and you might even find yourself watching it more often than the more popular movies that first caught your attention.

It’s a good time to discover Mile End Kicks, particularly if you enjoyed Roommates. Being among the first to appreciate something before it gets popular feels great – it’s how things used to be. Nobody wants to seem like they’re just following the crowd.

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2026-05-05 19:15