Palm Springs

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If you've been following me for a while, you know I'm not the biggest fan of rom-coms. It's not that I don't like the genre (I appreciate and enjoy every single one), but I find its movies tremendously difficult to really love. The massive majority follow the genre's formulas and cliches to such an extent that I rarely end up truly loving one of these films. Some are way too cheesy. Others are way too unrealistic and dream-like. But the aspect that throws me off the most is the lack of originality. I can't remember the last rom-com I watched that didn't borrow from countless other installments. I didn't know a thing about Palm Springs: no trailers, no knowledge of critics/audience's opinion, nothing... And I'm extremely happy about that!

I usually watch the main trailer for every film I review after I've seen the actual movie. I ignore all other trailers, clips, images, and so on. I do this so I can have some sort of knowledge regarding how far I can take my spoiler-free reviews. This way, I'm sure that I don't write about something I shouldn't. The official trailer for this film doesn't ruin the experience in any way, but it does tell its viewers the most relevant aspect of its screenplay. So, I could address it in this review, but I won't... because I enjoyed this movie a lot more, not knowing a thing about it than if I knew how it developed its story.

Therefore, I'll keep it really vague, and just write that Andy Siara's first feature-film screenplay can easily snatch a couple of nominations when the awards season comes around. This is a rom-com like no other due to its refreshingly unique concept. It's true that it's not an entirely new method of storytelling. Many other movies also employ this idea, but Siara holds so many surprises within his narrative and so few of the genre's common traits that the whole film is elevated by his outstanding writing....

If you're looking for a wholesome heartwarming movie, This is the movie you're looking for.

Great watch, will watch again, and can recommend, especially for fans of "time shifting" tropes.

Time shifting is where your mind goes back in time, but not your body. Essentially everything resets like a save point, except your have all this knowledge.

"Time shifting" was made popular by "Groundhog's Day" and there have been several movies that mainly consist of dying / sleeping and repeating like a video game, and this isn't THAT different with a few exceptions that make all the difference in the experience.

Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) finally steps up and shows everyone that he can do a somewhat serious role, and not just a straight man. Cristin Milioti (How I Met Your Mother) does an excellent job in her lead role, with a great supporting cast, to include J.K. Simmons (Cave Johnson) leading a wonderful supporting cast, except for Tyler Hoechlin (CW Superman: "Supergirl", "Flash", etc.), who I might just not like because he was Superman, but it's supposed to be an disliked character...so....good job?

The medium of the transfer being shown is an interesting option as we saw in the "Happy Death Day" movies, but it does allow for a reasoning of how it works, can it be broken / manipulated as opposed to divine will. Most importantly, it allows for more than just one subject being affected, which is really where it gets set apart.

The trope bleeds a little when you have multiple people trapped in the loop: you have multiple people trapped in a thing: you have multiple people trapped in a prison. When multiple people are trapped in a environment together, they tend to get a little strange, and we get that sort of thing a plenty. Because we have multiple story threads to follow, we're almost seeing 3 stories all overlapping, and the movie does a great job of showing those, whether or not their in chronological order, or happening at the same time.

Whether you see it as a prison break movie, or a time loop movie, this movie has a lot of fun i...

This is a reimagining of Groundhog Day, but I think it stands pretty well on its own merits. Groundhog Day did not attempt to explain what was going on, but in Palm Springs, some talk of physics and what might happen if they tried - well, never mind. Who am I to give anything away?

The plot is more complicated than it seemed, and that is a good thing. There is humor, of course, and good chemistry between the two leads, I thought. There was enough difference between each of the replays of the day that it didn’t feel like, here we go again with 90% of the same stuff happening with a slight change thrown in.

So it was an entertaining movie overall. It isn’t one that I will watch multiple times, but if the opportunity arises to watch it again, say with someone who hasn’t seen it, I wouldn’t hesitate. We all love to spoil movies for people by telling them what is coming up! (Just kidding. I don’t like it when it is done to me, so I just sit and let them experience it the same way I did.)

The multi-genre “Palm Springs” is an oddball, sci-fi rom-com about loneliness and love, a thoughtful story of existential consternation with a sharp-witted joke library. The film, written by Andy Siara and directed by Max Barbakow, is a weird hipster version of “Groundhog Day,” with a story about two semi-dorks stuck in an infinite loop where they must relive the same sunrise to sunset over and over again.

November 9th is the perfect date for a Palm Springs destination wedding, and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) is there for her younger sister’s big day. The elder sibling has a real chip on her shoulder, reluctant to serve as the maid of honor and not a big fan of formal events. At the reception, she meets Nyles (Andy Samberg), a carefree dude who is trapped with his shallow, cheating, bridesmaid girlfriend Misty (Meredith Hagner).

Sarah and Nyles hit it off with their shared offbeat sense of humor, and the duo sneak off into the desert for a late-night rendezvous. Something really, really weird interrupts their plans, turning the two into a powerhouse of cynical anarchy when they discover they’re able to endlessly reprise that day.

It’s a fun idea that’s given a refresh with smart-aleck humor from Milioti and Samberg. They’re a charismatic pair, even if they’re not the easiest couple to root for. The film has a jaded, “too cool for school” angle that may turn off some viewers, but it tries to remain lighthearted. An all-too-brief supporting turn from J.K. Simmons adds a bizarre but unexpectedly touching side plot, lending a lot of heart to the story.

As is the case with many films that premiere at Sundance, “Palm Springs” doesn’t come close to living up to the initial film festival audience reaction. The dark comedy is entertaining, but it’s not as funny as it could be, and it’s not as clever as it wishes it was.

Palm Springs puts a new spin on the old time loop story, and I am surprised at how well it works. Andy Samberg is fantastic as ever and shows off a little more acting chops than I give him credit for with the more emotional scenes in the film. The chemistry that he and Christin Milloti share is spectacular and felt so incredibly genuine. I felt so many things during this movie ranging from happiness, sadness, and laughter, it really takes you for a ride and it is such a fantastic one at that. This is such an underrated film and I cannot recommend this enough.

Verdict: Excellent

I've always had a soft spot for time loop movies since Groundhog Day (1993), and I'm happy to say that Palm Springs delivers a fresh and funny take on the genre. It's a well-crafted comedy that not only entertains but also leaves you with a few curious questions by the end.

The cast does an excellent job of making us care about the characters, which is crucial for a time loop movie. The challenge with this type of plot is keeping the repetition from becoming dull, and Palm Springs handles that with excellence. Each loop feels engaging, and I found myself enjoying the ride over and over again. Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded if the movie ran a bit longer—I was that entertained.

That said, I could have done with a bit less romance. The shift in tone was a little abrupt at the third arc, but at the same time, it’s hard to complain when the love story plays such a central role in the narrative. After all, love has a way of sneaking into even the most unexpected places.

Overall, Palm Springs is a standout time loop movie that keeps you hooked until the end. While I think the final act could have used a bit more development, it’s still a solid film that’s definitely worth watching.