Josh Loeb is making an unexpected jump from restaurants to Hollywood. After years of building a successful dining business, the founder of Santa Monica’s Rustic Canyon is stepping behind the camera.
Loeb makes his feature directorial debut with In Spite of Ourselves. The romantic comedy stars Brett Dier and Conor Leslie.
The film follows two people who fall for each other quickly. However, keeping their relationship alive proves much harder when real life gets in the way.
For Loeb, the project also marks a return to an old passion. He once dreamed of working in film before choosing food as his career.
From Film School to the Restaurant World
Loeb’s journey has taken several unexpected turns. He studied English and film at UC Berkeley before working as a script reader and magazine editor.
At first, Hollywood appeared to be his natural destination. However, his career soon moved in another direction.
In 2006, Loeb opened Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica. The restaurant quickly became popular with diners.
Over time, that single restaurant grew into a much larger business. Alongside longtime collaborator Zoe Nathan, Loeb expanded the group with several additional establishments.
Yet, filmmaking remained in the background. Loeb continued writing scripts during his spare time.
Eventually, one of those scripts became In Spite of Ourselves. It gave him the opportunity to return to filmmaking decades after first exploring the industry.
As Loeb has described it, the movie is “a love letter to food, Portland and love itself.” That connection makes sense after his two decades in the restaurant business.
A Romance Tested by Real Life
At the center of In Spite of Ourselves are Hannah and Archie.
Hannah is an ambitious baker from Portland. She dreams of opening her own restaurant.
Meanwhile, Archie is an aspiring comedian based in Los Angeles. However, he struggles when it comes to commitment.
Their attraction is immediate. Soon, the pair becomes caught up in an intense two-week romance.
But then reality steps in.
The couple returns to their separate cities. As a result, distance begins to test their relationship.
Their personal fears also come into play. Soon, doubts and insecurities threaten the connection they built so quickly.
Can Love Survive the Distance?
The film revolves around a simple question. Can two imperfect people overcome their fears and make their relationship work?
That premise may sound familiar. However, Loeb approaches it through a grounded, character-focused story.
The director has also expressed admiration for movies from the 1980s and 1990s. That influence can be seen in the film’s focus on relationships, personality and emotional conflict.
Rather than relying only on romantic clichés, the story explores what happens after the initial excitement fades.
Brett Dier and Conor Leslie Lead the Cast
Brett Dier plays Archie. The actor is widely recognized for his role in Jane the Virgin.
Conor Leslie stars as Hannah. She is known for her work in Titans.
The supporting cast also includes Mo Mandel, Alyssa Limperis, Britian Seibert, Zora Casebere, Ethan Ingle and Glenn Morshower.
Behind the camera, Loeb wears several hats. In addition to directing, he wrote the screenplay and serves as a producer.
He produced the movie alongside Michelle Lewitt, Gabe Mayhan and Tim Harms.
Portland and Los Angeles Shape the Story
The film’s two main locations are important to the narrative.
Portland represents Hannah’s world. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is closely connected to Archie’s life.
Therefore, the cities become more than simple filming locations. They highlight the physical and emotional distance between the couple.
The production also filmed across both cities. The shoot reportedly lasted just 21 days.
That compact production schedule fits the movie’s intimate approach. The story remains focused on its characters and their relationship.
Food Takes Center Stage
Food also plays an important role in the movie.
Hannah is a baker with ambitions of opening her own restaurant. That detail creates an obvious connection to Loeb’s real-life experience.
After all, Loeb spent years building his career in the restaurant industry.
As a result, the film allows his two creative passions to come together. His experience with food informs the story, while his longtime interest in filmmaking shapes the movie itself.
From Film Festivals to Theatrical Release
In Spite of Ourselves has already reached festival audiences.
The movie premiered at the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival in California. It later appeared at the 2026 Filmland: Arkansas showcase.
Loeb also took part in conversations surrounding the project. Those discussions offered audiences a closer look at the creative process behind his directorial debut.
Now, the film is moving toward its theatrical run.
In Spite of Ourselves is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on October 2, 2026. The movie has a reported runtime of 97 minutes.
What’s Next for Josh Loeb?
For Loeb, this feature could be the beginning of another creative chapter.
He has expressed interest in continuing to make films and television. He is also developing a production company focused on distinctive and commercially viable projects.
For now, In Spite of Ourselves brings together the filmmaker’s two longtime passions: food and storytelling.
From opening a Santa Monica restaurant to directing a feature film, Loeb’s journey has certainly taken an unusual route.
And now, after years away from filmmaking, he finally gets to tell a story of his own on the big screen.
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About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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