Movie List 2012: 1.) Safety Not Guaranteed

Safety Not Guaranteed

Trying a new format for my 2012 movie list.  Hoping it gives me a better shot at consistency…among other things.

Roll Call: Aubrey Plaza, Jake Johnson, Mark Duplass, Karan Soni.  Written by Derek Connolly. Directed by Colin Trevorrow.

What’s it about:  Actually, the plot is fairly basic.  Three magazine writers try to figure out the story behind a classified ad requesting a partner for time travel.  Is the guy who wrote it nuts?  He claims to have time-traveled before, could be that he’s done the impossible?  They don’t know, but they’re going to find out.

Yes:  Ok, first, I have to start out by saying that this and the next three on the list are movies I saw at the Sundance Film Festival.  Which is freaking awesome.  Such a great scene.  Buzz.  Excitement.  Love it.  Does this make me predisposed to liking a film seen here more?  After all, exclusivity can be alluring.  No, actually, it doesn’t.  Movies that try too hard to push their indie cred piss me off anyway.  I think I can be objective here.  Fairly so anyway.  And now allow me to shit all over that sentiment by saying that Safety Not Guaranteed very well may have been one of the best films I’ve seen in years.  It has so much going for it.  But perhaps nothing stands out so much as its heart.  The movie simply has a ton of heart.  Look, I read the synopsis of it included in the Sundance Film Guide.  I knew it would be quirky (which it was…charmingly so), and I had a strong feeling I was going to like it quite a bit (ok, so maybe I am biased a bit…screw off).  But I had no idea it would grab me the way it did, and just sweep me up in its story.  And that was due in large part to the genuine heart and feeling it displayed.  Everything seemed real.  Nothing seemed particularly contrived.  There was a lot about it that really shouldn’t have worked, but somehow Colin Trevorrow and company just refused to let it fall apart and break into segments of over-done clichés.  Everything kind of flowed together just right creating a gem of a movie.  I know.  I’m gushing.  And some of that gushing-ness may be fueled by a… I dunno… tangible Sundance glow that has settled over Park City.  But I assure you, this film is the real deal.

I’ve often said that the feel of certain movies just grabs me.  Safety Not Guaranteed has that sort of feel.  It just worked, you know.  It was funny, touching, and compelling.  Actually, the compelling part may have been the most surprising.  The movie does a great job of keeping you guessing.  Was Kenneth (Mark Duplass- splendidly hamming it up)- the “time traveler” in question the real deal?  Is he insane?  Does he have other motives?  Just who is he?  The movie unravels the answers to these questions rather than answering them in an abrupt, outright way- which is much to its benefit.  A lot of the fun of the story is not knowing how it’s all going to turn out.  Actually the gradual unraveling of characters isn’t confined solely to Kenneth, though he is the one with the most obvious question marks.  Each of the main characters is teased out as the story unwinds.  By the end, I really felt like I had a better handle on most of the folks who crossed the screen, and not only that, Trevorrow and crew peel back the layers on each of the main characters in such a way that you feel like you are able to piece it all together yourself.  He doesn’t tell you what makes them tick by saying, “this is what makes them tick”, he shows you what makes them tick in various connected scenes and moments in the story.  But then, isn’t this how it works in the real world?  I’d say it is, and the teasing and unveiling only contribute to that great feel I was talking about.  It all just works.

What else does it have going for it?  Aubrey Plaza.  Actually, one of the treats of attending the screening here at Sundance is the question and answer session afterward.  Someone took the opportunity to ask writer Derek Connolly what his inspiration was for the story and the character of Darius Britt.  For the story?  Well, it’s actually based on a real ad (and, as it turned out, the real ad’s writer was in the freaking audience!  A guy really did advertise that he was seeking someone with whom he could travel through time… and unfortunately he was only pointed out in the audience… and not given the opportunity to clarify whether he did, whether it was a joke, or whether he believed he could…damn it) and he took the story from there.  Darius Britt?  She was based solely on Aubrey Plaza.  Turns out Connolly had seen her in Funny People and immediately used her as the model for his Darius character in this movie.  And you know what?  She nails it.  She’s absolutely fantastic here.  I’ve only ever seen her in two other movies: the aforementioned Funny People and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.  I only vaguely remember her in Scott Pilgrim, but I do recall her being pretty good in Funny People… if a bit one-note.  And so she begins here.  But, oddly enough, as the movie plays forward an actress capable of nuance and subtle emotion emerges.  Sure she brings some of her typical dry wit and expert dead panning to the table, but by the end she allows you to really see what makes Darius tick.  And through Plaza’s performance, you get to see Darius grow as the story moves on.  Darius is no one-trick pony… and surprisingly… neither is Plaza.

NO:  I hate to say that a movie is flawless… but to me, this one comes close.  At its heart, it should have been a too-quirky-for-its-own-damn-good, silly comedy.  But somehow it ends up being so much more.  I will say this, though:  I wasn’t nearly so certain of it during its first twenty minutes or so.  It did get off to a kind of stumbling start.  It started a bit awkwardly… the acting wasn’t quite right… and it looked like it was heading straight for the realm of cheap/mean humor and a healthy dose of tired stereotypes.  But then, it found it’s heart, gradually shifted the focus- to a degree- away from the absurd story and more to the characters, and just let everything come together.  I imagine some people will be tempted to bail on it or write it off during the first twenty minutes.  I’d just urge you to stick with it.  The payoff is- in my mind- well worth it.

The Bottom Line:  Obviously, I loved the hell out of this movie.  I’d be shocked if it doesn’t finish in the top three in audience voting.  That said, I’ve only seen one movie here, and it is possible that I’m under the influence of the Sundance glow or buzz.  But I really don’t think I am.  More than anything else- and as frustrating as it might be- the best way I can sum it up is that the movie, the story, the cast… it all just worked.  It really did.  When introducing the film, Trevorrow explained that a lot of love went into the making of the movie, and he hoped we’d be able to see that.  I sure did.  And perhaps because of that- that love, that heart, I can say that a lot of love came out of watching it.  Big ups, my man, and well done.

Grade: A+

One more thing:  Safety Not Guaranteed was preceded by Nash Edgerton’s short film, Bear.  I don’t want to say too much about it… the less you know, the better.  But I will say that I can’t remember being so blown away by a movie.  I had no idea where it was going.  And when it got there… wow.  I’m not saying I was blown away in a good way, necessarily… more in a “what the hell just happened way.”  Totally taken by surprise.  Did I laugh?  Yes.  Did I hate myself a little afterwards… ummm…yes.  Definitely.  Check it out if you get a chance.