'Palm Springs' Review

Tuesday, 7 July 2020 17:58

 
R: Sexual content, language throughout, drug use and some violenceRuntime: 1 Hr and 30 MinutesProduction Companies: Limelight Productions, Lonely Island Classics, Sun Entertainment, FilmNation EntertainmentDistributor: NEON/HuluDirector: Max BarbakowWriter: Andy SiaraCast: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, Peter Gallagher, J. K. SimmonsRelease Date: July 10, 2020 
When carefree Nyles (Andy Samberg) and reluctant maid of honor Sarah (Cristin Milioti) have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated when they find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, and each other.
Time loop narratives are one of my favorite themes in television and film. Whether it’s sci-fi, action, comedy, YA drama, or horror-comedy, the time loop narrative paves the way for an ample amount of creative ideas, stylish direction, and a clear arc for our central protagonists. One of the best TV series of 2019 was Russian Doll starring Natasha Lyonne, which took the concept and spun it into a hilarious raunchy comedy with depth, heart, and a whole lotta death. Now we have Palm Springs, a raunchy rom-com produced by The Lonely Island team that utilizes the time loop brilliantly, resulting in one of my favorite comedies of 2020 thus far. I saw Palm Springs at Sundance earlier this year and I loved it. I rewatched it last week and loved it even more. I remember hearing the news of the Hulu purchase and going, “NO, NOT HULU! THIS BELONGS IN THEATERS!” However, the guys at Hulu knew what was coming and blessed us instead.
We all know and love Andy Samberg. If you don’t, I’m sorry, but in this house, we love Andy Samberg. We know him best for portraying a goofball with a charismatic charm set to 10. Out of all the comedic actors who are known to play man-children, Samberg has always been the cream of the crop. His character in Palm Springs is more reserved than ever before. He isn't the goofy Andy Samberg we’ve grown accustomed to. He still retains his charismatic charm and silliness, but with a mature approach. He delivers comedic dialogue that matches the nature of his character Nyles who has been living the same day over and over again for as long as he can remember, resulting in a carefree yet morbid perspective on life. Samberg is undeniably fantastic in this role and it’s some of his best work yet.Most narratives centered on infinite time loops begin by explaining how the protagonist got into the situation. Palm Springs, on the other hand, drops you right into the loop that is Nyles’ daily life. That’s one of the creative aspects of this film that I adore. However, it also places you at the beginning of Sarah’s loop and you witness the way she gets wrapped up in the scenario. This is where I have to compliment Cristin Milioti, who I’ve seen in several projects prior to this film (no, I never watched the final season of How I Met Your Mother, I’m sorry), but this role puts her in the limelight where she completely shines. Sarah becomes the audience’s avatar as she forms a hilarious and romantic relationship with Nyles that drives the film. The scenes they share are great and they bounce off of each other very well. 
Aside from the leads and their chemistry, what truly elevates Palm Springs is the script. The film centers on Nyles and Sarah, so the screenplay balances the perspectives of both parties. The story features a big mystery and it has nothing to do with the rock that granted them infinite time loop abilities. The way that Sarah and Nyles’ arcs are handled reminds me of Russian Doll where the leads must confront their past mistakes while reliving the same day. Seriously, double bill Palm Springs and the first season of Russian Doll. You’ll truly see what creatives’ minds are doing with the time loop narratives — a plot device that sounds adolescent but is being spun into something character-driven. Needless to say, the movie is absolutely hysterical. Much of the humor centers on random scenarios the leads get into and their experiences while navigating this same exact day, leading to hilarious cutaways and sequences. Aforementioned, I watched this film twice. The second time I watched it was right after seeing Desperados, which could very well end up being the worst comedy of 2020, so I balanced that out by watching the absolute best comedy of the year thus far.
Not enough J.K. Simmons. Just kidding… or… jk. J.K. Simmons is great here, but I won’t reveal too much of his character. You’ll just have to see it for yourself. 
One of the most bizarre background characters is Camila Mendes. She portrays Sarah’s sister who is getting married. Mendes is a talented actress with a recognizable name, but she’s given very little to do. June Squibb is also practically wasted in this film. These are not deal-breaking issues with the movie as a whole, I’m just baffled by how such big names –– big to me, at least –– don’t have much to do.Albeit having a perfect running time — 90 MINUTES, BABY! — the story suffers from a lull during the third quarter. It deviates into “romantic issues” and takes a brief nosedive, but what holds it together is director Max Barbakow’s style and the fast-paced direction. Therefore, even when certain moments seem to drag, the direction still runs at full speed.That being said, Palm Springs is one of the standout features of 2020 thus far. Thanks to that $17,500,000.69 purchase from Neon and Hulu, the film has finally been released for people to enjoy. Rating: 4/5 | 89% 

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