2015 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL: There's a point during Patrick Brice's darkly comedic film "The Overnight" where the humor goes from infectiously enjoyable to awkwardly unnerving. That both works for and against Brice's storytelling and filmmaking abilities. Through its strong ensemble that includes Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, and Judith Godrèche, Brice's film touches on the different encounters and reflections of the average thirty- something. Capturing traits from films like "Carnage" by Roman Polanski, the laughs are certainly on display, however the believability and natural character beats certainly are not.
In a film like this, that heavily relies on its script and quick wit and humor, Brice, who both writes and directs, relies far too much on the physical comedic tones rather than focusing on strong characters with a clearly defined destinations. "The Overnight" tells the story of Alex (Scott) and Emily (Schilling), two parents who just move to Los Angeles from Seattle with their son RJ. When they meet Kurt (Schwartzman) at a park with his son Max, he invites them for a play date at his house where he lives with his wife Charlotte (Godrèche). The evening goes as typical before the children are sent to bed and weird things start happening.
Through silly prosthetics, random sexcapades, and a very blundering, borderline amateurish orgy scene, "The Overnight" never really gets off the ground as its intended. Adam Scott relentlessly attempts to bring a sensitivity to Alex, but Brice's script never fully allows him to explore something new. Taylor Schilling is the film's real standout. Infectiously uncomfortable and concerned, Emily feels the most authentic with comedic timing that lands in every instance. Jason Schwartzman is as odd as we've ever seen him. As we're use to his quirky comic ways as seen in "Rushmore" and "I Heart Huckabee's," he brings Kurt to a dimension that was probably unrealized in its early inception. When Schwartzman lands, its lands exceptionally well, but when the character displays unflattering and odd behavior, Schwartzman's talents can't save him from spiraling downward. And finally with the sexiness and beauty of Judith Godrèche, there's not much that can go wrong except that Brice uses her arbitrarily at times and doesn't allow the Charlotte to explore the more interesting avenues of herself.
This doesn't all point to the film as a complete failure. The first half is toxically weird and brings out some of the biggest chuckles. When the story turns in a completely different direction, all leading to an unearned ending, it ultimately just lacks clear satisfaction. If so for the cast and its few bits at dark humor, "The Overnight" can be a fine watch for the independent film lover.
"The Overnight" opens in theaters on June 19.
In a film like this, that heavily relies on its script and quick wit and humor, Brice, who both writes and directs, relies far too much on the physical comedic tones rather than focusing on strong characters with a clearly defined destinations. "The Overnight" tells the story of Alex (Scott) and Emily (Schilling), two parents who just move to Los Angeles from Seattle with their son RJ. When they meet Kurt (Schwartzman) at a park with his son Max, he invites them for a play date at his house where he lives with his wife Charlotte (Godrèche). The evening goes as typical before the children are sent to bed and weird things start happening.
Through silly prosthetics, random sexcapades, and a very blundering, borderline amateurish orgy scene, "The Overnight" never really gets off the ground as its intended. Adam Scott relentlessly attempts to bring a sensitivity to Alex, but Brice's script never fully allows him to explore something new. Taylor Schilling is the film's real standout. Infectiously uncomfortable and concerned, Emily feels the most authentic with comedic timing that lands in every instance. Jason Schwartzman is as odd as we've ever seen him. As we're use to his quirky comic ways as seen in "Rushmore" and "I Heart Huckabee's," he brings Kurt to a dimension that was probably unrealized in its early inception. When Schwartzman lands, its lands exceptionally well, but when the character displays unflattering and odd behavior, Schwartzman's talents can't save him from spiraling downward. And finally with the sexiness and beauty of Judith Godrèche, there's not much that can go wrong except that Brice uses her arbitrarily at times and doesn't allow the Charlotte to explore the more interesting avenues of herself.
This doesn't all point to the film as a complete failure. The first half is toxically weird and brings out some of the biggest chuckles. When the story turns in a completely different direction, all leading to an unearned ending, it ultimately just lacks clear satisfaction. If so for the cast and its few bits at dark humor, "The Overnight" can be a fine watch for the independent film lover.
"The Overnight" opens in theaters on June 19.