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The Incredible Jessica James (2017): Cast, Ratings & Plot

The Incredible Jessica James (2017) movie poster

The Incredible Jessica James is a 2017 comedy directed by James C. Strouse, starring Lakeith Stanfield, Chris O'Dowd and Jessica Williams. It runs 1 hour 25 minutes. Critics gave it 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.

IMDb rating
6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
88%
Echo Score
67
Metascore
72
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The Incredible Jessica James (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 25m (85 min)
Director
James C. Strouse
Genre
Comedy
Original language
English
Studio
Netflix
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Incredible Jessica James About?

The premise of The Incredible Jessica James without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A sharp-witted playwright named Jessica James is struggling to move on from a recent breakup when she meets Boone, a charismatic single man also dealing with heartbreak. They form an unexpected friendship, bonding over their shared experiences and offering each other support. As they navigate their individual challenges, a spark develops, leading them to question whether their connection could evolve into a romantic relationship.

The Incredible Jessica James Themes & Keywords

· 25 tags
  • female protagonist
  • divorce
  • african american protagonist
  • overalls
  • breakup
  • four word title
  • tinder
  • app developer
  • child custody
  • booty call
  • stroll
  • over confident woman
+13 more
  • rollerblading
  • dating
  • picnic
  • london england
  • ohio
  • romantic relationship
  • pregnant sister
  • dream job
  • new york city
  • playwright
  • independent film
  • character name in title
  • author
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Cast & crew

The Incredible Jessica James Cast

Lakeith Stanfield leads the cast, with Chris O'Dowd and Jessica Williams. Directed by James C. Strouse; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from James C. Strouse

More films directed by James C. Strouse, best-rated first: Grace Is Gone, People Places Things, The Winning Season and Love Again.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Incredible Jessica James Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Incredible Jessica James 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 67/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

67 /100

The Incredible Jessica James Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, The Incredible Jessica James presents a strong lead performance and warm directorial approach but is hindered by a meandering storyline and limited sensory depth. Jessica Williams’s portrayal consistently grounds the film with energetic charisma and comedic timing, while Strouse’s direction fosters an intimate character focus. However, narrative pacing falters at times, and visual and auditory elements seldom elevate the material. The result is a pleasant yet uneven romantic comedy that resonates more for its central performance than its structural cohesion.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, the film exhibits a restrained directorial style that supports character interactions but rarely ventures into visual innovation. Strouse’s framing choices emphasize performance over ornamental cinematography, and production design remains functional without distinctive flair. Editing maintains a steady rhythm but does not highlight dramatic moments with particular emphasis. The overall effect is competent and serviceable, yet the artistic elements stay comfortably within conventional bounds.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    In terms of character and emotion, Jessica Williams’s energetic portrayal consistently anchors the film with vivid expressiveness and authentic comedic beats. Supporting cast members contribute amiable rapport, but secondary roles lack substantial development. The emotional texture remains engaging in lighter scenes yet refrains from probing the protagonist’s deeper vulnerabilities. Overall, the performance-driven dynamics offer a bright character showcase, though more nuanced depth would have enriched the emotional resonance.

  • Story & Flow 55

    When it comes to story and flow, the film delivers a familiar romantic comedy trajectory marked by intermittent pacing issues and predictable turns. The breakup-then-rebound structure provides momentary charm but grows repetitive as subplots meander. Imaginative dream sequences introduce bursts of creativity yet undercut the real-world progression with inconsistent tone. The overall narrative remains serviceable but lacks the cohesion and originality to sustain deeper engagement beyond initial appeal.

  • Sensory Experience 65

    In terms of sensory experience, the film maintains an understated audiovisual approach that complements its intimate tone but rarely surprises the viewer. The musical score provides a light, supportive backdrop without commanding attention, while sound design remains clean and unobtrusive. Visually, the color palette and framing are consistent and practical though not particularly striking. Overall, the sensory elements serve the narrative adequately but do not elevate the material beyond its grounded intentions.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    When evaluating rewatch factor, the film offers occasional charm yet struggles to justify repeated viewings. Jessica Williams’s performance retains its spark, but narrative rhythms and plot developments deliver few surprises on subsequent watches. The comedic moments remain pleasant but are insufficiently layered to reveal new insight upon repeat engagement. In summary, The Incredible Jessica James is enjoyable for a single viewing yet offers modest incentive for revisitation.

Plot

The Incredible Jessica James Plot Summary

What happens in The Incredible Jessica James from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Jessica James is a strong-willed woman who has recently gone through a breakup with her boyfriend, Damon. Eager to move on, she attempts to find new connections through Tinder, though she remains skeptical of the platform’s success. Interestingly, Jessica has orchestrated a date primarily to provoke jealousy in Damon.

Full summary

The whole story of The Incredible Jessica James, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

The Incredible Jessica James Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

The Incredible Jessica James | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix
  • Teaser The Incredible Jessica James | Teaser [HD] | Netflix
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Incredible Jessica James?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Jessica's profession?

Cars

Cars in The Incredible Jessica James

7 cars on screen, including the 2016 Buick Envision and the 2015 Ford Transit.

All 7 cars
  • 2016 Buick Envision in The Incredible Jessica James 2016 Buick Envision Important role
  • 2015 Ford Transit in The Incredible Jessica James 2015 Ford Transit Minor role
  • unknown in The Incredible Jessica James unknown Minor role
  • 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe in The Incredible Jessica James 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe Background role
Details

The Incredible Jessica James Also Known As

13 alternative titles, including “La increíble Jessica James” and “자체발광 제시카 제임스”.

Also known as
  • La increíble Jessica James
  • 자체발광 제시카 제임스
  • A Incrível Jessica James
  • ג'סיקה ג'יימס המופלאה
  • Niesamowita Jessica James
  • ג'סיקה ג'יימס המדהימה
  • L'incredibile Jessica James
  • Η Απίστευτη Τζέσικα Τζέιμς
  • İnanılmaz Jessica James
  • Невероятната Джесика Джеймс
  • ดิ อินเครดิเบิ้ล เจสสิก้า เจมส์
  • 不可思议的杰西卡·詹姆斯
+1 more
  • 不可思議的傑西卡·詹姆斯

Seen The Incredible Jessica James?

FAQ

The Incredible Jessica James FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Incredible Jessica James, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Incredible Jessica James?

The Incredible Jessica James runs 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes).

When was The Incredible Jessica James released?

The Incredible Jessica James was released on July 28, 2017.

Who directed The Incredible Jessica James?

The Incredible Jessica James was directed by James C. Strouse.

More films by James C. Strouse

Who is in the cast of The Incredible Jessica James?

The Incredible Jessica James stars Lakeith Stanfield, Chris O'Dowd and Jessica Williams, among 10 credited actors.

How is The Incredible Jessica James rated?

The Incredible Jessica James has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.

Does The Incredible Jessica James have a post-credit scene?

No. The Incredible Jessica James has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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