On the one year anniversary of his brother Tom’s death, Jack (Mark Duplass) is still an emotional wreck. His best friend Iris (Emily Blunt) suggests he gets away from it all and takes a break in her family’s isolated, holiday retreat.
However, on arriving he finds that the hideaway is occupied by Iris’ half-sister, Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt). From then on we are treated to a feast of comedy, reaching its peak with the unexpected arrival of Iris and all that this brings with it. She is thrust right into the heart of an already complicated and all too hurried coupling between the two emotionally distraught individuals inhabiting the holiday home.
In a nutshell, this film is truly enjoyable and very little fault can honestly be found with it it’s quite a delight. This picture is funny in all the right places, yet at times extraordinarily gritty and very cleverly and intelligently written.
In some of the scenes the characters’ delivery of the lines, together with the superb scripting is incredibly spot on and wonderfully executed, giving the audience no choice but to warm to them, especially in the case of Duplass’ Jack (Mark Duplass) and DeWitt’s Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt).
The performances can be viewed as significantly more impressive when it’s considered that many of the scenes were, in fact, improvised, giving things a uniquely natural, fresh and outstandingly authentic feel and hopefully ensuring it’ll be the success it should be in UK cinemas.
Jack’s expressive, awkward, clumsy, tragic and yet comic character somehow makes him a highly appealing male lead. In Hannah, we find a slightly neurotic character displaying a sense of desperation, willing to go to extraordinary lengths to fulfil her deep seated desires. Together they produce a winning combination.
Blunt as Iris is a superb choice to play the posh, yet down to earth Brit among a sea of very real and say-it-how-they-see-it’ Americans. The actress performs well, but doesn’t have the best of roles in the movie, although her acting is certainly on a par with the other two actors. Iris is not as humorous and lacks some of the complexity of the other two, possibly as a result of her slightly less dramatic life to that point.
One thing is certain, Blunt has mastered the art of crying in the most convincing, powerful and believable way, enabling the audience to become easily struck and moved, feeling the anguish experienced by her character.
The film ends on one of those annoying cliffhangers. For the most part, the audience is left eagerly hoping for a sequel, imagining just how chaotic, witty and hysterically funny it most probably would be. Hopefully, there will indeed be a follow up, because otherwise, this is a very cruel way to end a film!
But this movie is not really a comedy; it is a drama which does comedic moments immensely well. It is set against a backdrop of anguish, loss, regret, hurt and pain, but the humour and strength of the characters and the relationships between Jack and Iris, and Iris and her sister, triumph over all of these.
Award winning writer and director, Lynn Shelton (Humpday, My Effortless Brilliance) is well known for films examining human relationships and emotions. Here she does another stunning job portraying sibling rivalry and close sisterly bonds, producing a hugely compelling and engrossing motion picture.
Overall Verdict: A great film 90 minutes of my life well spent. Given the chance I’d watch it all over again. Fantastic!
Reviewed by Dee Davis