featuring @thekatecobb @zoecolletti @itsautumnbest
Kate Cobb’s sophomore feature BRB is a delightful throwback to the messy, dial-up era of early internet girlhood, wrapped in a sibling road trip dramedy. Set around 2006, it follows two sisters—15-year-old Sam (Autumn Best) and her older sister Dylan (Zoe Colletti)—as they embark on a cross-state journey so Sam can meet a boy she connected with in an AOL chatroom. What starts as a quirky quest for teenage romance quickly evolves into a deeper exploration of identity, family bonds, online vs. IRL selves, and the awkward transition from childhood to young adulthood.
This is a nice little coming-of-age story that nails the vibe of mid-aughts nostalgia without leaning too hard on cheap references. The film captures that transitional time when AIM away messages, chatroom flirtations, and camcorder footage defined how young people forged connections—before social media made everything feel both bigger and more isolating.
Where BRB truly shines—and what elevates it beyond a simple, straightforward tale—is in its two lead performances. Autumn Best and Zoe Colletti are outstanding, carrying the film with a fiery, authentic sibling dynamic that’s equal parts loving and exasperating. Best brings a refreshing, geeky vulnerability to Sam, perfectly embodying the younger sister caught between idolizing her cooler sibling and figuring out her own voice amid fantasy and real-world disappointments. Colletti matches her beat for beat as the rebellious yet protective Dylan, navigating her own heartbreaks while shielding (and sometimes clashing with) Sam. Their chemistry feels lived-in and magnetic; you genuinely believe they’re sisters who drive each other crazy but would do anything for one another.
This film is carried purely on the strength of Best and Colletti. They have incredibly bright futures ahead of them. If you’re in the mood for a fun, heartfelt story about sisterhood, first crushes (online and otherwise), and growing up in the shadow of the internet’s early days, BRB delivers exactly that. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s disarmingly charming and well worth the trip.
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