TIFF 2026 Review: Magazine – “like a lo-fi version of something that Noah Baumbach or Greta Gerwig would do.”

An internship at a literary journal leads to an aspiring poet developing a crush on the associate editor.

Thrilled to do an unpaid internship at a prestigious literary journal, Nora finds herself enthralled with her new surroundings and captures the attention of the associate editor.  The two of them have an affair which is doomed given their placement in the hierarchy.  In their orbit are the snobbish management team and social elite who like to party with each other.

Social awkwardness and miscues are on full display with the quirky actions of the Mad Hatter cast of characters.  Maybe it is the chiselled chin but certainly the stuffy demeanour has Jake Lacy feeling like the love child of Hugh Grant.  The dancing antics of Lukita Maxwell make for an adorable Tabitha.  Daniel Zolghadri gives a doggish vulnerability to Leonard.  Lily McInerny provides Nora with an endearing naivety.   Joshuah Melnick tries to give Thomas a certain Robert Redford quality.   Iris Apatow goes over-the-top for the outlandish and child-like Daphne.

The trouble is that everything comes across as a stage play, as you can imagine, the director cueing the action for each scene.  There is no organic flow that gives it that slice-of-life sensibility.  It is more like a lo-fi version of something that Noah Baumbach or Greta Gerwig would do. Everything is about the performances of the cast and the strength of the dialogue which is not quite strong enough to maintain a sustainable interest and memorable experience.

The 51st Toronto International Film Festival runs September 10-20, 2026, and for more information visit tiff.net.   

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.