Safety Not Guaranteed

2012 | 84 minutes | Rated R

An internet meme comes to life in this peculiar comedy about an aspiring journalist (Aubrey Plaza) who tracks down a recluse (Mark Duplass) after he submits a personal ad seeking a partner to travel back in time with him. Plaza made a name for herself playing snarky misanthropes on TV, but in this, her first leading role in a feature film, she's strikingly sympathetic. Her anti-charisma meshes well with Derek Connolly's script, which balances cynicism and warmth with surprising dexterity. The film almost spirals out of control when some overtly conceptual elements are introduced to the plot, but there's enough conviction in the performances to keep them tolerable. However, where the narrative and characterization work, the visuals are lacking. Director Colin Trevorrow's digital cinematography occasionally resembles a YouTube video in mid-buffer, making the gorgeous and picturesque setting of the Pacific Northwest coastline appear bland and texture-less. By Drew Hunt

Official Site: safetynotguaranteedmovie.com
Director: Colin Trevorrow
Producer: Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf, Stephanie Langhoff, Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow, Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, John Hodges and Michael Clark
Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, Jenica Bergere, Kristen Bell, Jeff Garlin, Mary Rajskub and Karan Soni