MOVIE REVIEW: PALM SPRINGS

Stuck in a time loop, two wedding guests develop a budding romance while living the same day over and over again.

Director: Max Barbakow

Cast:  Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, Peter Gallagher, J. K. Simmons, Meredith Hagner, Camila Mendes, Tyler Hoechlin

Release Date: July 10, 2020

Genres:  Comedy, Fantasy, Mystery 

Rated R for sexual content, language throughout, drug use and some violence

Runtime: 1h 30min

Review:

Max Barbakow's debut film will feel instantly familiar to lots of people who've seen Groundhog Day, 50 First Dates or even the recent horror comedy Happy Death Day.  At times, the film feels like an amalgam of those film’s ideas, but the impressive thing is that Barbakow’s film does not come off terribly derivative even though it is.  His direction is breeze and easy to like especially once the general concept is laid out.  The story itself is very much in line with Andy Samburg’s type of humor, sophomoric but there is always an air of sweetness and general lack of cynicism.  People who enjoyed previous Lonely Island productions like Hot Rod, Popstar or even Brooklyn Nine-Nine will feel right at home here.  Samburg being paired with Cristin Milioti makes the film work far more than it would in lesser hands.  They both share solid screen chemistry which can make or break these kinds of movies.  Together they make for a likeable couple so much so that you will probably overlook the fact that there a strong rom-com vibe throughout the story.  The film could have made better use of J. K. Simmons because his storyline would have been fun to explore but he still makes the film pop when his character pops up.  Palm Springs is the kind of fun, breezy film that’s eager please and it does for the most even though it doesn’t bring a ton of new to the table.

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