User reviews

If you think back to your high school days what was it like? Was it like this?

This movie is very "Clerks" in tone and dialogue. The characters were interesting and relatable. Itms definitely worth watching. At only 75 minutes, this won't take up your entire evening.

My only issue was the way they portrayed Northwood Pizza. I worked at the original Northwood Pizza from 1991-1994. The original location was right across the parking lot from the location used in the movie. When I worked there we had a much larger dining area and we were packed every Friday and Saturday night. As employees we cared about the quality of the food and the service we provided. The couple that owned it back then were wonderful to work for. It was a great environment for my first high school job.

The movie was filmed in Irvine, California where I'm from. It was so nice to see shots of my old hometown. Many of my friends from high school went to IVC (Irvine Valley College) where the character of Crispín went. I had other friends that went to OCC (Orange Coast College) where the character of Sierra went.

This film worked on two levels for me. A nice story and a trip down memory lane.

Oh, and we never called them "pies." We always said "pizza."

Anyone who can still remember their first job will enjoy Northwood Pie. It's a fun film about the miseries and unpredictable joy one finds at working a "dead end" job. The lead character plays a lovable role that the audience can enjoy rooting for.

Warning don't watch this film if hungry the pizza looks amazing. Indie films benefit from shooting a film in one central location and this film does a great job, similar in a way to Clerks.

Whoever wrote this dialogue was fantastic. It's funny and sweet and totally relatable. It's a short movie, but it feels like the perfect ending. I ended up liking this way more than I thought I would.

With a simple plot and likeable characters, humour that mostly hits on the right notes, unobtrusive cinematography and a ton of style, Northwood Pie is a great time especially if you want to relax and have a great time watching a feel good movie. Memorable scenes, and quotable dialogue, this film is well thought and the acting is solid!

Well done :)

I found myself smiling from ear to ear watching Jay Salahi's "Northwood Pie". There's a casualness and low-key jadedness that burns through the pie-slinging millennials of the Northwood Pizza shop. Characters act and talk like real people, and more than 99% of the recent teen comedies I've seen, actually sound like a real group of friends. One may be forgiven for not knowing where the plot is going, as Salahi enjoys meandering around with his characters but that's also part of its shaggy charm. Todd Knaak makes a great protagonist as Crispin, who enters the circle of California stoners and slackers, making his mark with his own quirky off-kilter energy. Hang-outs and smoke sessions lead to deeper truths about these character's inner lives, without ever feeling forced or saccharine. In this regard, Salahi has been successful, making a naturalistic and very funny snapshot of millennial life. Highly recommend!

"Northwood Pie" is, at it's raunchy roots, a mid 1970s stoner flick updated to the 2020s, packing potency the variety of which ganja genre giants Cheech and Chong would praise on high. While high.

Todd Knaak (who co-wrote this simple, yet, in it's own unusual way, sweet story along with Director Jay Salahi) stars as Crispin, a Southern California kid at a critical crossroads. Will he be content continuing to get paid peanuts to pump out pizzas? Or will he pick a potentially more fulfilling future, galloping away to greener grass, leaving this one-horse town behind to choke on his dust.

The blunt and blue banter between Crispin and his equally lost buds is consistently hilarious here. The script succeeds in rising above the silly, while mercifully stopping short of miring in melancholy melodrama, hence heavily harshing the buzz, bruh.

The closing moments of "Northwood Pie" present a rousing and inspiring homage to a bygone time, both for these characters, and to an American era that once was. This is an indelible conclusion, an enduring final image capturing the uncertainty, and the endless possibilities, of youth. It is one of spontaneous clarity.

Achieved only after the smoke settles.

I love small indie comedies. This hit the mark. My favorite movie is Clerks and this felt like clerks. I love the setting and it made me hunger for pizza so I order one. The characters felt fleshed and out and really. The lead actress was really good. Northwood really standouts by having strong writing and direction.

Northwood Pie... What a pleasure to see a small film take a simple premise that is so easily relatable and accessible to everyone who has experienced the journey of love and self identity. It may sound like you have heard this before, but these are the recurrent themes of growing up. This film doesn't try to overwhelm with hyperactive characters or events that try to distract you from the true story that many viewers can identify with. The film felty simuarl in a way to Clerks or a Kevin Smith film. I think Salahi has taken a smart step in exploring and demonstrating people who are interacting authentically, and learning about life together was the pizza wheel reminds us that we all have been there, wish to be there, but agree that friends and love are all that matter in the end. Ironic moments and a natural pithy exchange of real dialogue makes to appreciate this authentic perspective of what it is enjoy the moment as you pursue the future.

Wonderful snapshot into the life of the youth working at a pizza shop. This is a gem of a film. Stoners, slackers and pizza - what's not to love. Take a trip down memory lane and the easy going, carefree life of being young and dumb. Funny and enjoyable. I recommend.

Really enjoyed this little coming of age drama. You can tell it's personal and that makes all the difference. Great casting and performances - the dialogue / banter flowed and felt really authentic. It felt like it was living the world of Adventureland which I really loved. Easy Recommend. A+

I liked its pacing, how it depicted the flow of everyday life for Crispin. I enjoyed the one on one scenes between characters the most; the combination of dialogue and physical exchange/interaction had the same cadence and feel of real conversations I have every day with my friends. All in all it was fun to watch! The website's pretty nice too.

I love comedies and movies that just make you feel good. Northwood Pie is one of those movies that is just fun, that remind us all of those relatable and awkward moments in life. This coming of age comedy is great if you ever wondered how awkward, misunderstood and funny finding yourself and what you want can be.

Give me a comedy that makes me feel right at home with its characters and I'm in. I felt throughout like I'd met them all somewhere before in my own crazy burb past. Credit goes to Northwood's terrific dialogue, the writer who wrote it and the lively cast who delivered it. Don't miss this well-paced coming of age indie comedy. Order a pie and enjoy.

Jay Salahi's "Northwood Pie" is a little indie gem with quirky characters and funny situations. Todd Rank and Annika Foster deliver endearing performances. Love the low-key no future vibe.

This movie is very fun and enjoyable, had me laughing the whole way through.

I saw this at the Pasadena International Film and was blown away by this movie. The movie perfectly captures growing up and becoming an adult. As Someone who grew up in a suburbia this film is very related. The story is about Crispin (Todd Knack) wanting something more in life than being stuck in suburbs while his friends are happy being in there hometown. Crispin dreams over something bigger in life.. He ends up having a relationship with Sierra (Annika Foster).. The love story in this perfectly captures love and romance in your early 20s. The two leads have amazing chemistry and well acted. The movie has great comedic scenes. Northwood Pie feels like one most real movies about life. It may have a low budget but the direction, writing, and acting carry this film to be better than 90% of big budget Hollywood movies. It is so refreshing to have movie with a heart. You can tell this movie was crafted with love. The characters feel fleshed out even the minor characters have important voice in film. The movie also is held together by excellent direction. The director is able to balance everything perfectly and keep the film well paced. If you this at future film festivals this is must see!

This was a fun ride and well worth the time. It is funny and very relatable even to those no longer in high school. It is well paced, well written and well acted. I recommend it.

Great debut feature. Engaging throughout with interesting characters, and looks far better than it has any right to for its budget. I look forward to seeing how the director progresses.

This is a pretty fun little movie with likeable characters. It is entertaining and it's ending is pretty realistic. For it's budget, has great production value.

A refreshing and well crafted coming of age movie like this is just what we need. With this being Jay Salahi's feature debut, you can already see a very nuanced and measured writer/director who knows the cinematic language incredibly well and is a fan himself. Names like Richard Linklater and Steven Spielberg come to mind when I think of the feeling and look of this movie. Also amazing performances by the lead and co-writer Todd Knaak as well as his incredible female counter part Annika Foster. Shout out to all the supporting cast as well because you can see the director knew that a movie can live and die by its supporting players. A must see which I would strongly recommend anyone to check out. Can't wait to see what Jay Salahi does next!

If you grew up in Irvine or have lived there at all during your teen years or early adulthood, this movie should hit you right where it hurts. From the dialogue to the filming locations everything is spot on, the feeling of wanting so much more while being stuck in such a small bubble, surrounded by people who are okay with not wanting more and that feel no need to explore what else is out there...Every topic was touched, this movie was written directed and edited flawlessly because it's REAL.

Well developed characters drive the movie forward. Loved the music soundtrack, it fit the movie perfectly. A great summer indie movie about friendship & work place camaraderie with beautiful cinematography which I highly recommend you watch.

Good movie; with a good story. All the characters and interactions felt realistic without trying hard. Definitely a coming of age story for someone in their 20s, trying to figure out whats next and navigating the subtle difficulties of forming romantic relationships and the disappointment that may come with it. All in all a fun watch.