Safety Not Guaranteed (15.)
Directed by Colin Trevorrow.
Starring Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni, Jeff Garlin and Mary Lynn Rajskub. 86 mins
‘Wanted: someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. I have only done this once before. Safety not guaranteed.’
Does anything else need to be said about this film? If the wording of that small ad isn’t enough to put the hook in you than nothing you read or hear about it is going to persuade you otherwise, but if it is there really is no need to know anything else about it.
Finding such a small ad in a newspaper and going to follow it up is an intriguing premise, full of possibilities, both for fulfilment and disappointment. In any low budget movie about time travel there is the tension of whether it is actually going to deliver on the premise or be a great big con. I’m certainly not going to tell you but I think it is safe to say that viewers shouldn’t go in expecting Looper.
I think the film toys with audience’s expectations rather beautifully. Though most of the characters are motivated by disappointment and frustration, there is something very light and happy about it. The humour, the performances and the piece’s humanity should be enough to overcome most misgivings. Aubrey Plaza who plays a magazine intern sent out to investigate the story, has a face like a young Allison Janney, stern and unforgiving. Watching the light slowly return to it is the film’s great joy. It’s very pleasing this low budget film about time travel.
Safety Not Guaranteed (15.)
Directed by Colin Trevorrow.
Starring Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni, Jeff Garlin and Mary Lynn Rajskub. 86 mins
‘Wanted: someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. I have only done this once before. Safety not guaranteed.’
Does anything else need to be said about this film? If the wording of that small ad isn’t enough to put the hook in you than nothing you read or hear about it is going to persuade you otherwise, but if it is there really is no need to know anything else about it.
Finding such a small ad in a newspaper and going to follow it up is an intriguing premise, full of possibilities, both for fulfilment and disappointment. In any low budget movie about time travel there is the tension of whether it is actually going to deliver on the premise or be a great big con. I’m certainly not going to tell you but I think it is safe to say that viewers shouldn’t go in expecting Looper.
I think the film toys with audience’s expectations rather beautifully. Though most of the characters are motivated by disappointment and frustration, there is something very light and happy about it. The humour, the performances and the piece’s humanity should be enough to overcome most misgivings. Aubrey Plaza who plays a magazine intern sent out to investigate the story, has a face like a young Allison Janney, stern and unforgiving. Watching the light slowly return to it is the film’s great joy. It’s very pleasing this low budget film about time travel.
