Sometimes it is not easy to qualify exactly what genre a movie is. Safety Not Guaranteed is one of those films. The 2012 picture was recommended to me by Nathan Andrew Jacobs, the writer/director of the independent film Killing Poe, who stated that it was an excellent Indie film that should be seen by more people (check out the interview below – for those of you who watched it in the Rushmore review, it is the same one).
The film is an interesting mix of genres, with comedic touches, drama, romance, science fiction and a pinch of mystery thrown in for good measure. It can also be seen as a coming-of-age story.
The main character is Darius (Aubrey Plaza); a dark, depressed and confused young woman working as an intern at a Seattle-based magazine. The team decides to investigate an unusual personal ad that reads: “WANTED Someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You’ll get paid when we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before”. The paper sends writer Jeff (Jake Johnson) and two interns, Arnau (Karan Soni) and Darius, to a quaint town to investigate the man behind the cryptic message.
We soon realize that Jeff is more interested in hooking-up with an old high school flame than doing work, so Darius takes the lead and makes a connection with Kenneth (Mark Duplass) – the man building the supposed time machine. About halfway through the story the movie takes a turn and we begin to wonder whether the intensely paranoid Kenneth may have actually stumbled upon something interesting – as he is being tracked by some shady looking suits.
This flick is a rather interesting one, as it surprises us in many ways. The character development is heartwarming. At first, the characters seem to be rather stereotypical, but as the film progresses we watch them evolve into intriguing, three-dimensional figures. Jeff, who at first comes off as a superficial, racist-sounding prick, transforms into a much more sympathetic individual after he meets his former gal-pal. Kenneth and Darius demonstrate the painful and lamentable feelings people carry, like soulful scars, over the years. The time machine premise of the story helps illustrate the regret that people live with and what they are missing in their lives (and the things they would change if they could). The story slowly transitions into a rather touching one as these details are integrated into the plot.
There are also some very interesting cameos in the film. Comedienne Mary Lynn Rajskub (who is known for her role as Chloe O’Brian in the tv show 24) plays the bitchy head of the magazine. Comedian Jeff Garlin plays Darius’ father and Kristen Bell also makes a surprise appearance in an unexpected place.
There are many stand-out moments in the film. The dry humour that Plaza’s Darius brings forth in the opening scene, where she is interviewing for a job, is highly entertaining. The paranoia that Duplass’ Kenneth brings forth as he is warned by Darius that they are being followed (she is simply keeping her cover as she does not want Jeff and Arnau to be discovered) is priceless. The car chase, which takes place at a rivetting fifteen miles per hour, is an unorthodox gem of a moment. Finally, the ending, which I will not reveal, is stunningly shot and leaves the viewer with a magical and happy feeling inside.
Writer Derek Connolly and director Colin Trevorrow, who more recently worked together on the giant blockbuster Jurassic World, create an unusually satisfying Indie film in Safety Not Guaranteed. Though it may not be easy to label, it has a bit of everything – comedy, romance, drama, emotion and science fiction. So, take a trip back to 2012 and watch this interesting flick, though I must warn you . . . Safety Not Guaranteed!!!