Seattle critic says Adam Cayton-Holland’s ‘See You When I See You’ compares favorably to ‘Ordinary People’

Denver comedian Adam Cayton-Holland is experiencing the highest highs and, I am assuming,  a few lows all at once this week as the film based on his deeply personal, award-winning memoir makes its world premiere at the high-stakes Sundance Film Festival.

Audiences have been eagerly anticipating Tuesday’s debut screening of “See You When I See You” in Park City, Utah – so much so that all five scheduled in-person screenings quickly sold out. So too, a limited number of tickets that were made available to watch along online.

When IMDB.com’s 2026 Sundance Cheat Sheet came out a few weeks ago, it listed “See You When I See You” as its No. 4 most anticipated film of the entire festival.

The film, written by Cayton-Holland, directed by Jay Duplass and starring Kaitlyn Dever, Cooper Raiff and David Duchovny, has been described as an emotionally complex examination of grief and trauma, balanced with streaks of levity.

The story was inspired by Cayton-Holland’s very real struggle to come to terms with the enormous loss of his sister and best friend to suicide – but the film is its own cinematic invention.

The IMDB report said that while the premise might read like a hard swallow to some, “the pleasing cast and resilient themes could warm up the festival and those indie movie-going audiences (who still exist).”

Duplass says the story touches on the many ways people grieve — from depression to avoidance to deflecting with humor — in a way that can resonate with anyone and everyone. “This is a story about generating love and hope in what feels like impossible times,” he told an in-house Sundance writer.

In Sundance’s description of the film, “Duplass taps into the millennial milieu of masking sorrow with humor and the devastating mental toll that avoidance can take on the bereaved, ushering us through a parade of ill-advised coping mechanisms and the collateral damage that follows with his trademark sense of compassion and empathy at every turn.”

Asked whom he wants this film to reach, Duplass said: “Every single person that’s ever lived.”

One can only imagine the courage it took Cayton-Holland to put his story on paper, first in the form of a book, followed by a play, then on film. One simply cannot count the number of people who have been touched by suicide and helped over the past eight years by reading his words or seeing him perform.

Including me.

When my family was recently blindsided by the monster that is a mental illness that took one of ours away, I turned to Cayton-Holland’s words, gleaned from his own hard personal experience: “It’s a disease. And that disease is going to do what that disease is going to do.”

It’s become my mantra. I say it to help me sleep.

So I’m not at all objective when it comes to Cayton-Holland’s new film. I am rooting for it. I am rooting for him. Because there are a lot more people out there who can benefit from the journey if given the chance.

So I got a little defensive (OK, angry) when the early reviews started to come in after Tuesday’s first screening. Over a film I haven’t even seen. Most have been what I would call conditionally kind. “A sincere handling of a trauma that would end me,” said The Guardian. The word “earnest” comes up a lot.

Every single person that’s ever lived.’ – director Jay Duplass, asked whom he wants his film to reach.

Seattle critic Chase Hutchinson of “The Wrap” opined, “There is a tension that comes from the humor clashing with the tragedy, but it’s a worthwhile one. Life is full of sudden loss, and then also ridiculously funny moments. Capturing that authentically is no small feat, but Duplass does so with delicate care.” He went on to say “time will only tell if ‘See You When I See You’ will someday be held in the same esteem as ‘Ordinary People.’” Now, there’s a high. 

But then I read The Hollywood Reporter, which left me wanting to punch someone. That someone being the estimable film critic David Rooney, who wrote that “despite its sincerity and the raw pain of shattering real-life experience that infuses it, this movie feels like a knockoff struck from the template of a thousand bittersweet, funny-sad indie grief dramas branded with the old-school Sundance stamp.”

As a non-objective former critic myself, I can only say: Luckily I’m not within the wingspan of Rooney’s jaw.
But this is part of the game, and as a seasoned stand-up and TV creator, Cayton-Holland knows it. You put yourself out there as a creative, and you will be welcomed both with gentle hugs and groin kicks. Sometimes at once.

For his part, Cayton-Holland seems on top of the world. “What an absolutely incredible few days,” he wrote on Instagram. That premiere (Tuesday) is something I will never forget as long as I live. I’m still floating. So happy I got to be part of this incredible fest in its final Utah year, and I’m thrilled to welcome it to my Boulder backyard next year. Keep your eye out for more from our movie, and support indie filmmakers by watching their stuff. Art matters. Fills you up for the fight.”

Game on.

Colorado Symphony sendoff

More than 2,000 poured into  Boettcher Music Hall to hear Colorado Symphony Music Director Peter Oundjian, backed by 80 of Colorado’s finest hometown players, duplicate as best they could the very same program they will present at Carnegie Hall on Sunday along with esteemed featured violinist Itzhak Perlman.

The night was a festive romp as they tore through John Adams’ “Frenzy,’ a 20-minute burner that fuses the modern with the timeless, followed by works from Antonín Dvorak, Fritz Kreisler and John Williams with rotating crowd favorites Yumi Hwang-Williams, Kate Arndt and Claude Sim standing in for Perlman. After the second act, the principal players moved into the Boettcher’s Encore Lounge, where they were inundated with audience well-wishers.

“I think you can see that the orchestra is pretty revved up about going to New York City!” Oundjian told the crowd. The Colorado Orchestra plays two nights at Radio City with Gregory Alan Isakov before the Carnegie Hall gig on Sunday.

“Going to Carnegie Hall is a sign of growth, ambition and quality for a musician,” said double bassist August Ramos. “There is no other space in classical music so renowned that you could expect everybody to know it by name. It feels deeply meaningful to be a part of this orchestra’s first trip to New York City.”

President and CEO Daniel Wachter said he loved the energy in the room, “which will carry east to New York.” Denver-born Board president John Street calls this unprecedented tour a win for all of Denver. “You can’t have a great city without a great symphony,” he said.

Jewish Film Festival continues

The Denver Jewish Film Festival continues through Feb. 1 at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center. By then, 40 films from around the world will have been showcased, each highlighting diverse perspectives, compelling narratives and meaningful connections to Jewish life.

Thursday’s 7 p.m. spotlight film will be a comedy called “31 Candles.” It’s about a Jewish film director who makes Christmas movies in New York City until he decides to have his Bar Mitzvah at the age of 31. It’s a heartwarming rom-com from Jonah Feingold about love, identity and growing up – eventually.

Check out the full remaining program at tickets.jccdenver.org/djff.

Denver Jazz lineup

The second annual Denver Jazz Fest will bring 40 shows to 15 venues from April 7-12, and tickets are now on sale. The lineup will include the Ingrid Jensen Quartet and the

Rodney Whitaker All-Stars performing the music of composer Gregg Hill. Native son and saxophonist Rico Jones will co-bill with celebrated trumpeter Hugh Ragin as The Wise Ones, in tribute to John Coltrane and Miles Davis.

Previously announced performers include Bob James in his first Denver appearance in 40 years, Pat Metheny and Side Eye III+, Branford Marsalis Quartet, José James, Facing East, John Beasley, Miles & More, Hazel Miller’s Jazz Roots, Keith Oxman; Robert Johnson Sings Johnny Hartman; and the Clare Church Trio featuring Rene Marie, Charles McNeal Reunion Band and many more.

For tickets and the full lineup, visit denverjazz.org./

And finally …

The hot concert (on sale) of the week has got to be the KOOL Koncert 2026, featuring Lionel Richie with Denver’s own Earth, Wind & Fire. It’ll happen on July 31. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at livenation.com.

John Moore is the Denver Gazette’s Senior Arts Journalist. Email him at john.moore@denvergazette.com.