Safety Not Guaranteed

Wanted: a quirky loveable ultra hip romantic movie involving hijinks and mayhem with a large dose of time travel.

Ideal responder: Safety Not Guaranteed

 Easily fulfilling all the checkboxes presented in the above ad, Colin Trevorrow’s Safety Not Guaranteed comfortably sits within my personal top ten for 2012.  Why all the praise?  That’s easy…the film is good!

Safety Not Guaranteed is actually based on a real ad that was placed in a local paper that has a man attempting to find an adventure seeker who is looking to travel through time with him – his second such adventure.  In the film the ad sparks some minor interest with a few writers of a Seattle based magazine, prompting them to contact the ad writer and pose as an interested party.  It’s simple really, but the outcome is anything but.

For starters, Safety gives Mark Duplass a role where he doesn’t come off so smug and self-absorbed.  He is able to broaden his talent and appeal here, giving audiences a new side in which to fall in love with.  His co-star, Aubrey Plaza, knocks it out of the park with her flawless delivery of her often overlooked and under respected deadpan humor.

I can’t overlook the scenes that involved Jake Johnson and Karan Son.  Playing Jeff and Arnau respectively, the duo provides for much of the comic relief that is used to counteract the film’s more serious moments.

The film’s weakest moment comes with its unveiling a ‘twist.’   Detailing how time travel has affected the present was likely a good idea on paper, but its execution leaves much to be desired…and explained.  I’ve thought the entire scene over several times in my head and I still can’t fully wrap my head around the idea.  Not a good sign for an otherwise comprehendible story.

Overall, Safety Not Guaranteed was a fun film that effectively mixes the sci-fi genre with some laughs and a bit of romance.  It’s a rarity really; one that you should definitely take the time to check out.