Directed by: Colin Trevorrow
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
"Wanted: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. P.O. Box 91 Ocean View, WA 99393. You'll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before."
Safety Not Guaranteed is one of those films that can be appreciated by anyone that watches it. On the surface it is a quirky comedy about a grocery store clerk named Kenneth (played by Mark Duplass) who is trying to find a trustworthy soul to travel into the past with him. An intern at a magazine in Seattle, Darius (Aubrey Plaza), is selected as one of two people to accompany Jeff (Jake Johnson) in his investigation of Kenneth's unusual newspaper ad. When Jeff, Darius, and Arnau (Karan Soni) arrive in the small beach community where Kenneth lives it is revealed that Jeff has ulterior motives. He has come to the area to rekindle a relationship with a girl, Liz (Jenica Bergere), he once "dated". Jeff attempts to connect with Kenneth but is quickly dismissed when he senses that Jeff is not committed to the cause. Darius then volunteers to try her luck. She succeeds and forms a strong bond with Kenneth. Kenneth informs Darius that he is attempting to travel into the past to save his girlfriend, Belinda (Kristen Bell), from being killed when she is hit by a car. Jeff eventually finds Liz and begins to fall in love with her. However, what is a good dramedy without the drama? See this film!
What I liked the most about Safety Not Guaranteed (other than forcing me to finally learn how to spell guarantee) is that while it is silly at times you can tell that everyone involved absolutely loved the story, and they took the silliness seriously. Watch this interview with Duplass about his character, Kenneth:
**WARNING THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS INTERVIEW**
Duplass talks about the genuineness of Kenneth. "He's a believer". It is refreshing to have someone play a character that is capable of taking things at face value. Someone that doesn't analyze everything. Kenneth's wardrobe throughout the film consists of quite a bit of denim, a mullet, and a headband. To take him seriously is definitely a task but Duplass makes it easy. The only reason you ever doubt his ability to time travel is because of the other characters. That takes talent. Duplass typically makes films, with his brother Jay, in the Mumblecore genre. These films are likened to the cinema movement from Denmark called Dogme 95. I studied these films while in school and their influence on Duplass' films (Cyrus, Jeff Who Lives At Home, Baghead, and others) is evident. They are tough to watch for some because they are...boring. They revel in being real; natural; believable. That's not what we watch films for. We want an escape from boring. This is why Duplass' films don't draw large box office numbers. Do I enjoy them? Absolutely! I thoroughly enjoyed Jeff Who Lives At Home and though that Cyrus was a great project for Jonah Hill to take in an effort to branch out of his comfort zone. Safety Not Guaranteed (along with The League) is Duplass' way of exploring his more comedic side. He is great as Pete on The League!
No BS
Safety Not Guaranteed has something for everyone. There is love, action, comedy, and a dash of hardcore geekery. While the framing of the film is a man looking for a time travel companion the guts of the plot have nothing to do with the actual time traveling. If you've seen Mark Duplass, Aubrey Plaza, and Jake Johnson on their sitcoms (The League, Parks and Recreation, and The New Girl respectively) then this is a great opportunity to see them flexing some artistic muscle.
My Score: 9/10
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