Same Same But Different- SXSW 2026
March 12th, 2026
MOVIE: SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT
STARRING: MEDALION RAHIMI, LOGAN MILLER, LAYLA MOHAMMADI, DALIA ROONI
DIRECTED BY: LAUREN NOLL
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG-13
RUN TIME: 105 MINUTES
Last year, the independent darling Sorry, Baby became Eva Victor’s brutally honest and direct look at human healing. In 2026, critics and fans alike will be searching for the next film that brings honesty and kindness into a world that can often feel bleak, and they need look no further than director Lauren Noll’s heartwarming rom-com Same Same But Different. With its charming story about three Iranian best friends, each dealing with their own unique relationship struggles, this rare gem may remind you of movies past, yet it strikes a uniquely endearing tone that leaves a smile stretched from ear to ear.
Written by Dalia Rooni, the film begins with the trio talking on the phone- Rana (Medalion Rahimi), Set (Layla Mohammadi), and Nadia (played by Rooni)- as Rana prepares to open the results of her green card application in America. To her dismay, she’s rejected. It’s her last chance, meaning she must return to Iran. Working as the caretaker for Adam’s (Logan Miller) bedridden father, the two share a casual friends-with-benefits relationship. But when Adam decides he doesn’t want to lose Rana, he proposes that they get married. Even if they don’t truly love each other, they reason, the arrangement could at least give Rana a chance to stay with her friends in America. The rest, they hope, they can figure out later.
The setting- a seaside home in Cape Cod- may feel familiar, but what Rooni and Noll have created is something akin to a modern Nancy Meyers film for our divided times. The supporting cast, including Joey Lauren Adams as Adam’s gentle yet skeptical mother and Kevin Nealon as a hilariously offbeat guru helping Rana ease her stress, helps balance the film’s tone. The comedy blends seamlessly with more serious conversations as the three women discuss career goals, relationship struggles, sexual desires, and their evolving identities. Films that center on this kind of honest female friendship remain rare. Not since Bridesmaids has a movie captured the messy complexity of female bonding while still delivering plenty of laughs- often at one another’s expense.
Although the three leads each bring distinct personalities to the screen, what ultimately elevates Same Same But Different is Noll’s direction. There’s a palpable sense that the set itself was a genuine bonding experience for everyone involved. While not every joke lands and some montages feel like runtime filler, Noll excels at capturing the emotional substance beneath the humor. We are living in difficult times- especially amid tensions and conflict involving Iran- but Rooni’s script never shies away from confronting differing viewpoints. Her characters gather around the dinner table to debate their perspectives or attend a yoga session where disappointment and frustration bubble to the surface. The only true villain is life itself: the trials Rana must face and the uncertain future ahead of her. Yet as the story unfolds, her chemistry with Adam slowly deepens into something sincere. Each frame feels refreshingly authentic.
The reality is that movies of this caliber rarely assemble so many rising stars in one production. Rooni’s writing is sharp and witty, while Noll’s direction proves that compelling new voices can emerge from the rom-com genre. Meanwhile, Rahimi and Mohammadi are steadily becoming faces audiences will recognize everywhere. Same Same But Different is a breath of fresh air- a love story where friendship, clashing cultures, and shared humanity reveal that our differences are often not so different after all.
3 ½ STARS
SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT PREMIERED AT SXSW THIS PAST THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH, 2026.
Written by: Leo Brady
