PLOT: Three magazine employees head out on an assignment to interview a guy who placed a classified ad seeking a companion for time travel.
THE GOOD: Story. You have likely seen the classified ad meme that was the inspiration to Safety Not Guaranteed. It has appeared on Jay Leno, all over 4chan, and repeatedly on Craig's List. Never in a million years would I think making a movie out of this picture would be a good idea, but it clearly was. Safety Not Guaranteed had a successful showing at the Sundance Film Festival this past year where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize and took home the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. Being a fan of the cast members, especially co-star and producer Mark Duplass, I had this film on my radar late last year. There's just something so simple and attractive about this film's premise. There is a subplot to the film involving Jake Johnson's character that some people were frustrated with. I think those people don't understand how his character lines up with the bigger picture and the messages you can take away from it. Also, before you think you know what's going to happen at the end of this movie, you're likely wrong. I was. On the first day of this year, I said about this movie, "What they discover I'm hoping will be charming, funny, and a little bit crazy." That's exactly, pin-point, spot-on what you get in this film. It met my expectations in a wonderful way, but I hate to say that it did not exceed them.
I walked on the beach all emo like before it was cool.
Screenplay. The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for writer Derek Connolly is well-deserved. In an interview I saw of him, he explained that he felt like he immediately knew the guy who might have written an ad like this. What he was like, what his flaws were, what his state of mind might have been. It's a very creative story. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the script is the dialogue. I'm a big fan of the natural stuff. Like, what would this person say if really put in this situation? Don't Hollywoodize it. Be normal. It feels so much more real that way.
Locations. I am very happy to report that a movie set in Seattle finally decided to film in Seattle! Man, it sure has been awhile. After Chronicle, 50/50, and The Killing, I was beginning to suspect that my city wasn't going to exist physically anymore. Consequently, Safety Not Guaranteed only takes place in Seattle for about five minutes. When the magazine employees go to investigate the ad, they visit a town called Ocean View, Washington. When I first heard the name of this city, I began to scan my brain for an Ocean View in this state. I was pretty sure there wasn't one. Then the film started showing locations that I was very familiar with that reside in Ocean Shores. I was super excited to see these places I've visited before in the movie, and plan on doing a movie photowalk there one day now, but was disappointed in the name change. Is Ocean View really that far off of a name from Ocean Shores? Was there a legal reason they couldn't use the name? Is "Ocean Shores" just too literal? Whatever. It's a small gripe, but I'm just happy they actually filmed in our state. On a semi-related note, Washington state legislature reinstated the filmmaking incentive program, which provides a 30 percent reimbursement to film crews for products, labor, and services provided by Washington companies.
Cast. For being an indie film shot for under $1 million, they pulled in some really talented A-listers to appear in this movie. I'm not going to speak much more beyond this because I enjoyed being surprised scene-to-scene on who I was going to see next. I will say that there is a fun cameo by the guy who actually wrote the original ad as a joke in Backwoods Home Magazine. All I'll say is that it happens at the post office near the beginning of the film.
I drove beat up cars before it was cool.
THE BAD: Aubrey Plaza. I enjoy seeing Aubrey Plaza pop up in films here and there. I never thought she was a very attractive actress until now. However, I do feel like she's a one-trick pony. She plays the same kind of characters in each film. Monotone semi-depressed young adult. She doesn't carry the film as well as I would have liked.
Chemistry. I had a little bit of a problem with the chemistry between Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass. I think they work well together, but it was simply their age difference that had me not believing some of the things in the film. I want to say that the Darius character should have been recast with someone slightly older.
THE END: Safety Not Guaranteed is adorably indie and cute. If you liked Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, Garden State, etc., it is likely you will enjoy this film, too. It lacks the polish of a visual indie like 500 Days of Summer, but it makes up for it in a capturing story. Safety Not Guaranteed will be released in limited theatres this Friday. If you live in the local Seattle area, you are in luck because the film will be playing in four different theatres here, Sundance Cinemas Seattle, Regal Meridian 16 in Seattle, Lincoln Square Cinemas in Bellevue, and Century Federal Way. The Century theatre will even be holding a midnight showing for it tonight. Go see this movie as soon as you can and be prepared to have the charm knock your socks off.
DISCUSS: What did you think of Safety Not Guaranteed? What did you think of the Jeff subplot? Do you wish more films were made in Washington? What do you think of Aubrey Plaza?
I wore bandanas before it was cool.
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