Want to hear more from the actors and creators of your favorite shows and films? Subscribe to The Cinema Spot on YouTube for all of our upcoming interviews!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
The eighth short film that I had the pleasure of watching for this year’s Tribeca Film Festival—and the second one that I will be covering—is a coming-of-age sex comedy. While technically categorized as a romantic comedy—yes, according to bell hooks, loving oneself counts as romance—actor-writer-director-producer Aimee Garcia’s Aimee Comes First is awkward and weird. However, when it comes to narratives as personal as losing one’s virginity or, in this case, achieving an orgasm, those are normal feelings to have.
Aimee Comes First is co-written by producers Aimee Garcia (Cadet Kelly, George Lopez, Lucifer, M.O.D.O.K.) and A.J. Mendez and is directed by Garcia.
In this review, I will discuss Aimee Comes First. As this article’s title suggests, no spoilers will be present.
Scrappy Heart Productions’ Aimee Comes First Synopsis
According to Scrappy Heart Productions, here is the official synopsis for Aimee Garcia and A.J. Mendez’s romantic comedy short film, Aimee Comes First.
Three days from turning 40, Aimee Garcia is proof women can have it all. A thriving career, loving family, hot fiancé; what more could she want? Um … an orgasm. Determined to experience her first climax, Aimee enlists her sex-sensei Gen-Z cousin and a plastic three- dimensional vagina. She’ll push back against her Old-School Latino family, Catholic guilt and fear of trying something new as an adult. She’ll discover that touching her lady parts won’t damn her to hell. “AIMEE COMES FIRST” is the story of a modern-day Latina who finds her voice by finally pleasing the person she’s put last for decades; herself.
Scrappy Heart Productions
Discussion
According to the Tribeca short’s production notes, Garcia cites The 40-Year-Old Virgin and My Big Fat Greek Wedding as inspirations for Aimee Comes First. Yet, I cannot help but feel that the comedic elements stem from other places, too. The opening scene, wherein Aimee Garcia’s (Garcia) manual sex act is interrupted by the arrival of her family members, appears reminiscent of a similar sequence that played out in, say, Robert Iscove and R. Lee Fleming Jr.’s She’s All That or Joel Gallen et al’s Not Another Teen Movie. Garcia and Mendez take viewers back to the raunchy days of sex comedies, albeit with their own spin on the subgenre.
Aimee Comes First is entertaining and funny for all the right reasons. Garcia’s art direction of a one-location set piece at home keeps the story contained without too much movement. I suppose this makes sense given that the lead character is repressed and is looking to achieve an orgasm on her own. Director of photography/ camera operator Andrea A. Walter tries to follow suit, however, during some moments, the camera has trouble being steady. Still, gaffer Vittoria Campaner lights the set well and allows for colors to pop.
Garcia and Mendez’s screenwriting is actually good, especially on a second watch. I didn’t exactly know what to expect, so when objects enter the frame, they are like little surprises to see. The short has more levity than it does severity, which isn’t a detriment here. Even the small line deliveries from Noel G and Yvette Monreal are good. In that regard, Garcia did a fine job of casting her family members and her (fictional?) fling.
The Crew Behind Aimee Comes First
Andrea A. Walter serves as the director of photography and camera operator.
Bianca Catbagan serves as the stills photographer. Vittoria Campaner serves as the gaffer.
Gina Hirsch serves as the editor. Payton Halbeisen is the assistant editor.
Justin Kamps serves as the music supervisor. Kelsey Jonikas serves as the supervising sound editor.
Aimee Garcia also serves as both the Tribeca short’s casting director and art director.
Agata Maszkiewicz serves as the costume designer.
Liz Mendoza (Cooties) serves as the makeup department head. Kelsey Berk (Rebel Moon Parts One and Two, Sinners) serves as the additional makeup artist.
Christopher David Fernandez serves as the hair department head.
The Cast of Aimee Comes First
Aimee Garcia portrays a fictionalized version of herself.
Lamorne Morris portrays George Johnson.
Yvette Monreal (The Fosters, Rambo: Last Blood, Stargirl) portrays Isabella “Izzy” Garcia.
Noel G (Training Day) portrays Uncle Hector.
Olga Merediz (Music of the Heart, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Place Beyond the Pines, Orange is the New Black, In the Heights, Encanto, Somebody I Used to Know) and Alfred Molina (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Identity, Spider-Man 2, Monsters University) portray Valeria and Luis Garcia, Aimee Garcia’s mother and father, respectively.
David Hartzell appears as Noah Cornell, photographed in a high school yearbook.
Character Developments and Performances
The virgin is an archetype who exists beyond just one genre, whether it’s comedy (e.g., romantic comedies, teen comedies, etc.) or, more notably, horror. Garcia performs to the best of her ability in the lead role as herself. Alongside the likes of Noel G, Olga Merediz, and Alfred Molina, the actor takes the spotlight but remembers to share it with everyone else. The short film version of herself is written decently, and Garcia portrays the part with youth and wonder. The incorporation of “post-nut clarity” and her monologue about “My vagina isn’t broken”—which takes me back to Season One of Issa Rae’s HBO comedy-drama series, Insecure—build layers in her characterization.
Conversely, Monreal is a new face with whom I am not too familiar. Her presence as cousin “Izzy” is the best among everyone in the Tribeca short. Her explanation of who she is and what role she plays got a few genuine laughs out of me, especially in the second act, where she records a podcast episode. I would love to see how the actor continues to develop her craft in performance. She simply brings light-heartedness to the table.
Final Thoughts on Aimee Garcia and A.J. Mendez’s Aimee Comes First
Aimee Comes First is a neat short that could be all the more interesting if taken the form of a feature film. The director, her co-writer, and their team represent repressed women and persons of Latin descent so well. It makes sense, then, for a narrative like this to run at a proper sixteen minutes. Unfortunately, I never want to hear, “Support our community!”, in Aimee Garcia’s specific context and tone. On a serious note, though, I recommend adding this short to the list of sex comedies. Not bad at all!
4/5 stars
Aimee Garcia and A.J. Mendez’s Aimee Comes First premieres at Tribeca Film Festival tonight, Saturday, June 7th!
For more comedy and romance-related news and reviews, follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky! Also, follow us on Letterboxd for further feature film, short film, and limited series reviews!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
