Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Safety Not Guaranteed - 3 1/2 stars

How's this for a classified ad:  Wanted:  Somebody to go back in time with me.  This is not a joke.  You'll get paid after we get back.  Must bring your own weapons.  I have only done this once before.  Safety not guaranteed."

Darius Britt (Aubrey Plaza) is an intern at a Seattle magazine.  Along with Jeff (a writer) and Arnau (an intern), Darius goes to the seaside community of Ocean View, Washington to investigate the person behind this add.  Is it a joke?  Is the guy crazy?  Is it Doc Brown?  Who would post an ad like that?

The man behind the ad is Kenneth Calloway (Mark Duplass), a grocery clerk who is extremely paranoid.  He's the kind of guy who has newspaper clippings all over the walls of his house, which is located deep in the woods.  He is very much a loner.

Darius tells Kenneth she wants to go back in time with him, and once she earns his trust, he starts putting her through various training exercises.  As you would expect, they start to develop feelings for each other. 

I really enjoyed this movie.  One reason is that Aubrey Plaza is adorable.  I first noticed her in Funny People, when she played the object of Seth Rogen's affection.  She is also very funny in Parks and Recreation.  She has a disaffected, cynical attitude that makes her very fun to watch, and it makes her a perfect match for Kenneth. 

This movie moves along nicely.  I was never bored, and there were a lot of funny moments that made me laugh out loud.  And these were not simple gags - they were momens of humor that came from the characters.  This one is highly recommended.

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