Probably one of the best games I like to play with my
friends is that of hypotheticals. I
really can’t explain just how enjoyable it is to watch each other struggle as
we ask ridiculous questions such as “who delivers the eulogy at your funeral?”,
or the inevitable last person on earth questions. It is thus no surprise that I greatly enjoyed
Safety Not Guaranteed, a film whose premise could probably fit well within our
game.
Wanted: a partner to travel with me back in time, ready for
danger and knowing that safety is not guaranteed. The above is the gist of the
personal ad placed in a regional newspaper that engages a journalist (Jake Johnson) and his interns.
It turns out that this ad is not a joke,
and that loner Kenneth (Mark Duplass- pete from The League) really does believe that he will be time-traveling. Of course nobody believes this guy, and the piece is intended to be a nice bit of comedic fluff for the newspaper. Chief journalist Jake , has clearly used the situation to try and meet up with a
former flame and so his wonderfully sarcastic, cynical intern is sent to
investigate this weird so-called time-traveler, by posing as someone interested
in his ad. Naturally, the dude is an
absolute nut, but it’s ok mostly because Mark Duplass is just that right amount
of crazy to be humourous while gently reminding you of the singing homeless
people you sometimes run into on the street; the pain and loneliness of their existence
having long ago pushed them over some unseen line.
What makes this movie work is that it’s charming and is light and funny in every regard. It’s not a serious dramatic movie, but yet is capable of moments of supreme clarity, all the while not pretending to be anything that it’s not. The film is pretty predictable in some regards and yet feels a bit too simple- as though it could be replicated as some sort of made-for-tv-hallmark-special. Luckily for us, the writing and jokes are extremely well written and very well-delivered. Duplass’ craziness is so well emoted- so well controlled, that I almost forgot that he is the same guy I watch in The League. His chosen time-traveling companion is also a delight- her deadpan humour fitting well in the dynamic of the film, with its jaunty but real approach fitting her on-screen persona rather well.
Safety Not Guaranteed is a great Sunday afternoon movie, a
little independent movie that has no grand assumptions about it identity, but holds
true to its promise, delivering powerful messages without making you feel
burdened. In fact, it got me thinking about what I would do if I traveled back
in time, and what I would fix. I’m not quite sure what that would be yet, but I
know I have no regrets for having watched a truly wonderful film.
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