#140RVW
Starting from great premise (well-written joke classified ad) newbie team of Connolly & Trevorrow craft funny, smart film that just plays…
What’s more:
This movie just works. The starting point was a joke classified ad placed in Backwoods Home Magazine in 1997 to fill up some dead space. It’s a great little bit of writing by their employee John Silveira, and really begs to be developed into a screenplay.
But it is just an idea; the execution is key. Enter screenwriter Derek Connolly & director Colin Trevorrow, who only had one short film credit between them. One movie later and they’re on Hollywood’s hot list. The reason is this movie: Safety Not Guaranteed.
The plot is simple enough: after reading the aforementioned ad, magazine writer Jeff Schwensen (Jake Johnson) grabs two interns to go investigate the story in Jeff’s hometown, while he attempts to reconcile with his high school sweetheart.
The success of this film, though, is due largely to the character they created, Darius Britt, and the portrayal of same by Aubrey Plaza. The character is an archetype (the under-appreciated unsocial young person looking for greater meaning), but a well-written one, and Plaza really gives the character depth and validity. This is her first major starring role & she finally has something to sink her teeth into.
Mark Duplass, one half of the brotherly filmmaking team, takes a role that could easily be ridiculous and makes something more of it. It’s still funny the way he plays the alleged time-traveller, but it’s not mean-spirited; he is a believable character. Jake Johnson is along for the ride and while his story isn’t entirely necessary, it’s entertaining.
It’s a breezy ride, clocking in at slightly under an hour and a half. It’s funny and different and one to watch.
Poster:
Trailer:
Bechdel Test:
Fail
The Representation Test Score: B (7 pts)
(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)
| Main Cast | Aubrey Plaza Darius, Mark Duplass Kenneth, Jake Johnson Jeff, Karan Soni Arnau |
| Rating | R |
| Release Date | Thu 18 Oct 2012 UTC |
| Director | Colin Trevorrow |
| Genres | Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi |
| Plot | Three magazine employees head out on an assignment to interview a guy who placed a classified ad seeking a companion for time travel. |
| Poster |  |
| Runtime | 86 |
| Tagline | |
| Writers | Derek Connolly (written by) |
| Year | 2012 |