91% Safety Not Guaranteed

2012 is looking like the year of Mark Duplass, both in terms of quantity and quality. As writer and director with his brother, he started off the year delivering yet another one of his notoriously lightweight and only mildly entertaining dramadies, 'Jeff Who Lives At Home' before deciding to step out into the actors' circle, with two leading roles and two supporting roles all in the same summer. Its odd to see someone come out of nowhere in such a short span of time, and I'll admit I was skeptical of his acting potential after seeing him in the trailer for 'Your Sister's Sister.' But if the movies he stars in are as charming and enjoyable as 'Safety Not Guaranteed,' then I guess I really shouldn't complain. But it's kind of true: Duplass isn't the best actor. He acts and sounds a lot like he's imitating Jason Segel, which might explain why he cast Segel in March's 'Jeff Who Lives At Home.' As the core of which everything this film revolves around, a not-so-major actor like Duplass was a risk, and while I wouldn't say he gives a particularly noteworthy performance, he at least holds his own. Aubrey Plaza, on the other hand, gives a performance so good that she may have put to rest her typecasting as the 'attitude girl' for good. At the beginning of the film, she remains as sarcastic and jaded as she is in her past roles, but by the end, you'll believe that she can be a star, and that her emotional range is far better than you may have guessed. It's also perhaps worth noting that she looks better than ever before as well, with her big, emotion-filled eyes working perfectly to her advantage.Since all I knew about 'Safety Not Guaranteed' was that it has to do with time travel, I was definitely surprised in all the best ways. The direction itself isn't anything special, though truly beautiful shots appear here and there. What's more remarkable about the technical craft of the movie is its soundtrack, a great collection of music that is consistent in its tone throughout. But the real draw is the fantastic story it tells. There are a couple of subplots revolving around each of the characters, and while each are simple, they all tie in to the greater theme of nostalgia and regret that the main narrative tackles physically rather than emotionally. Its beautiful how well everything comes together in the end, and while a few plot elements feel half-baked, generally the story is exactly how it should be: simple on the outside with layers of depth peering through. Props also must be given for the most awesome self-aware line I've heard in a movie in a long, long time.Yet the script's greatest accomplishment is how it plays with the audience. Needless to say, don't read too much about the plot if you think you might see it. Expectations are a big part of what makes the ending of the film so profound and awesome; its one of those rare movies where you don't realize how brilliant it is until the finale, after spending the entire time trying to figure out what the story was actually about in the first place.

July 1, 2012

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/safety_not_guaranteed/

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