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Indie comedy, from the producers of Little Miss Sunshine, about three cynical Seattle magazine employees who investigate a classified ad calling for time travel companions. They discover a mysterious eccentric named Kenneth (Mark Duplass), a likable but paranoid supermarket clerk who believes he's solved the riddle of time travel and intends to depart soon. Also stars Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) and Jake Johnson (New Girl).
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Safety IS somewhat guaranteed in Colin Trevorrow’s modestly enjoyable indie, which takes its plot from a real-life magazine ad that became an internet meme in the mid-2000s. The idea of someone looking for a partner to join them on a time travelling expedition is high concept heaven, loaded with the potential to be something wholly original and unpredictable - an arcanely twisted Charlie Kaufman-esque opus perhaps. However, Trevorrow and writer Derek Connolly take the less adventurous route, content to charm our pants off rather than set our imagination on fire. More
The toned-down sci-fi quotient may bug viewers wanting something meatier - this is more romance with a dash of sci-fi rather than vice versa, about characters finding love in unusual circumstances rather than engaging in the convoluted mechanics of time travel.
The film’s deadpan approach to genre is endearing to a point, playing out certain tropes with a fittingly budget-strapped flatness (the goofy break-in at research facility to steal lasers, the generic sunglasses-wearing gov agents). But it’s when we’re in the company of Mark Duplass’ crackpot weirdo and Aubrey Plaza’s cynical mag intern getting all googly-eyed over each other that the film shows where it succeeds most in: heart-melting adorability.
Plaza’s first major lead role isn’t a stretch by any means, but fans of her work in Parks and Recreation won’t be complaining and she proves she can hold both the big screen and a part with larger emotions, even if her tried-and-true brand of drollness lacks surprise. Hide
10 ratings and 11 reviews
I loved this flick. Understated, perfectly paced and just the right mix of ingredients for a well-ballanced indie chuckle. Perfect foil to the tsunami of sense-exploding blockbusters saturating cinemas everywhere. Go.
This movie was just gorgeous, I came out smiling. Funny, surprising and had really likeable characters. Most importantly the trailer doesn't give away the entire plot. In the words of Kenneth - wanna see something cool? Make sure you check this film out, you'll love it.
On the vanguard of the apparently re-burgeoning time-travel genre - surely a spate of averagely written cash-clones are in development as this film plays?! - director Colin Trevorrow's maiden feature voyage SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED is even less interested in focusing on it's apparent genre framework than Rian Johnson's also excellent (and currently playing) LOOPER. Instead Trevorrow has constructed an indie rom-com par excellence; unafraid to go for easy laughs as it lovingly and successfully subverts mainstream rom-com tropes and character stereotypes.
Darius (Aubrey Plaza of PARKS AND RECREATION fame, providing plenty of indie squee) is a lonely misfits in her 20s, living with her dad and interning at a local Seattle magazine. Together with shy, nerdy science graduate Arnau (Karan Soni), Darius volunteers to work on a research team for a bizarre little story with jaded, low-rent reporter Jeff whose louche demeanour is driven home on the road trip to small Washington town Ocean View where their story is to be found. That story is based on an obliquely strange advertisement placed in a local newspaper by oddball Kenneth (a perfectly cast Mark Duplass, also worthwhile watching in currently playing relationship drama YOUR SISTER'S SISTER) stating that he is seeking a partner to travel back in time with him; they must bring their own weapons!
Plaza and Duplass have great chemistry as thrown together misfits and their connection drives the success of much of the narrative but I was just as impressed (possibly more so) by Jake M. Johnson's turn as Jeff. He plays the aging misogynist with just the right amount of veiled self-loathing and manages to make his moments of transformative self-awareness feel honest despite the short runtime of the film. Production-wise this film is ably shot and edited, and has a very familiar feel in sync with both its true-to-life tenor and its relatively modest budget - the bones of which can occasionally be seen onscreen. 'Mumblecore' trainspotters might like to note the Duplass Brothers EP role and also keep an eye out for the Lynn Shelton cameo (director of the aforementioned YOUR SISTER'S SISTER).
Sporting a quirky premise that could have gone in any number of directions Trevorrow hones in on the relationship drama between his four leads and the comedy to be mined within; the film's subversive comic-dramatic dynamic comparing favourably to Chris Morris' equally smart, though politically loaded, 2010 film FOUR LIONS.The filmmakers make smart use of their limited budget to produce an engaging rom-com which achieves a steady comic patter - even the occasional piece of AUSTIN POWERS-esque physical comedy worked for me - dotted with moments of laugh out loud brilliance. As well as garnering laughter the movie simultaneously turns expected character arcs and typing inside out. All of the lead protagonists get similar treatment, transforming what starts out looking like cynically aloof indie fare into a warm, feel-good filmgoing experience - and I mean that in the best possible sense. Leaps and bounds ahead of any big studio rom-com I have seen in recent memory SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED and should appeal to a wider audience than your average indie feature; I hope you'll go and see it too.
It's quirky without being over the top.
Mmm
This film had a great sense of humour and kept the laughs coming thick and fast while being able to still make the characters and situations feel believeable. While it is very understated it managed to avoid being too artsy, having a healthy mix of quirky indie character drama with accessible humour.
The pacing was just about perfect, and manages to keep teasing the audience in regards to how things are going to turn out by the end. Aubrey Plaza was pitch perfect and the whole film was just a great joy. Excellent storytelling.
Safety not guaranteed is one of those films that simply excels when it comes to building a relationship between those on screen and the viewer left sitting in the dark, hopelessly enthralled. Whilst it began somewhat woodenly, ever so slightly rushed, it soon grew into what it was aiming for; constructing a world of tangible realism despite its seemingly ridiculous premise. Each of the characters simply felt real, the humour was brilliant, the emotion deep and the story engaging. One of those films that makes you think twice about our society and the way in which we often lump brilliance with madness. We all want to go back in time and if I could, I would definitely stop past on my way to the lotto store for another viewing.
I can generally tell within the first five or ten minutes if I'm going to dislike a movie. Sure, sometimes things get off to a shaky start and salvage themselves as a story is allowed to develop, but unfortunately it's often the opposite, and something that starts well falters later on. Colin Trevorrow's Safety Not Guaranteed, a film with a more unpleasant opening than anything I've seen recently, tried valiantly to win me back but was sadly only around halfway successful.
The film stars Aubrey Plaza as Darius an interning magazine journalist sent with two colleagues to research a story about a bizarre and mysterious classified ad seeking a partner in a time travel mission. What follows is a fairly generic love story which is sweet enough, and the quirky time travel element provides a freshness lacking in many indie romances. Plaza is her usual moody self, yet is allowed to strip away some of her trademark cynicism as her character warms to Kenneth (Mark Duplass), the potentially damaged loner responsible for the classified ad, showing a tender side not seen from her before.
Their relationship is a cute coming together of two social misfits, and works pretty well despite some questionable plot holes and an ending that doesn't quite add up. However, this is only half of Safety Not Guaranteed, and Darius and Kenneth's story is hampered by a brief runtime (86 minutes), too much of which is spent on the secondary story concerning Darius' fellow intern Arnau (Karan Soni) and boss Jeff (Jake Johnson).
Any warmth Trevorrow generates in scenes of Darius and Kenneth is obliterated every time the film switches to the mean-spirited, creepy antics of Jeff, who is using the trip to rekindle a past romance with Liz (Jenica Bergere), dragging troubling ethnic stereotype Arnau along for the ride. Jeff is such a leering, off-putting character, uncomfortably dragging what could be a decent film down an irredeemable degree, and after the ham-fisted attempt at redemption following his encounter with Liz blows up in his face, he simply slips back into his obnoxious persona, giving gross macho advice to the meek Arnau.
The jarring juxtaposition of the two narrative threads results in a film that is tonally all over the place, sending contradictory messages and wrapping up with little satisfaction. There is a charming if slight romance in Safety Not Guaranteed, it's just a pity it is surrounded with such a distasteful garnish.
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nice movie as long as you are not expecting too many special effects or plot twists etc. But certainly still makes for an enjoyable evening out
Finally, a GREAT film that doesn't rely on Hollywood A listers and millions of dollars spend on CGI to tell a story. Safety Not Guaranteed is funny, original and well told. You genuinely feel like you know the characters, or at least know someone just like them and you so badly want Kenneth to not be a complete fruit-loop! I loved this film and the originality of the story and I will definitely be watching this one a few more times!
Hard not to like this little flick. A charming story about how we would all like to go back and change something somewhere in our past but should always the present. All the characters are well developed and the plot rolls quietly along taking us with it to the point where we are really rooting for this guy to be on the level. Well worth the ticket price.
'Safety Not Guaranteed' not only has dialogue that's about something, but characters who have some depth and dimension. Full review.
Aubrey Plaza proves she can carry a film with this multiplex-friendly comedy about time travel. Full review.
Director Colin Trevorrow and writer Derek Connolly keep the film humming with funny and touching surprises. And Plaza is a flat-out enchantress. Full review.
'Safety Not Guaranteed' doesn't quite know what kind of comedy it wants to be; the humor works best in its first hour, when the news-of-the-weird plot takes on a suggestive dimension of romantic desperation. Full review.
It's equally endearing as a sweetly funny romance between two likable oddballs and as a low-tech time-travel thriller, and has something profound to say about making the most of the present. Full review.
Develops into an endearingly scrappy and romantic romp that serves up some nice soul-searching moments alongside a steady stream of laughs. Full review.
I'm in.....damn right I'm in
YAY!!!....Looks Good!...
Looks great!
I've seen this and it is grrrreat!
Really loved this movie - quirky comedy drama at its best.
Totally enjoyed the movie. Lovely characters & story
meh