THE OVERNIGHT (6 out of 10) Written and Directed by Patrick Brice; Starring Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, and Judith Godrèche; Rated R for “strong sexuality, graphic nudity, language and drug use.” 79 minutes. In limited release June 19, 2015, expanding to some markets June 26.
NOTE: Writer/director Patrick Brice will be doing in-person Q&A at specific screenings in Austin, TX this weekend. Scroll to the bottom to find out when/where to catch him!
“The Overnight” begins with husband Alex (Adam Scott) and wife Emily (Taylor Schilling) trying to enjoy some awkward and dysfunctional marital coitus only to be interruptus by their son. They’ve just moved to Los Angeles and are looking for new friends and new friends for their son, and a chance encounter at the park introduces them to Kurt (Jason Schwartzman) and Charlotte (Judith Godreche). Their kids have fun playing together, so the couples plan an evening together to let the kids play and the adults get to know one another.
From the beginning, though, it seems like there’s something odd with Kurt and Charlotte, but Alex and Emily hang along for the ride through the evening which ends up involving drinking, bong hits, hot tub, skinnydipping… and wackiness ensues.
If your brand of humor is a Venn Diagram of sexual and awkward– this is your movie right here. It’s funny, and the comedic talents of the main cast are put to great use. This film also has a lot of the touches of executive producers the Duplass brothers, so if that mublecore kind of humor makes you laugh, again, this is your movie.
The other good thing is how unpredictable this plot is. Even when you think you’ve gotten figured out, it takes another twist.
It also takes liberal use of its R rating. So if you are at all sensitive to extensive full frontal nudity and exploration of swinging or bisexuality, this may not be for you. However, despite there being extensive nudity and sexuality, it never seemed prurient, gratuitous, or salacious. And there are some positive messages in here about sexuality and body acceptance.
But ultimately, this movie is more awkward than it is funny. The drama and exploration of sexual dysfunction and staleness in marriage ring true, but it overshadows the comedy, making it a harder pill to swallow. Still, amazing performances, and if you’re a fan of these actors you will want to check it out… especially for long, lingering shots of their obviously prosthetic junk (played for laughs and for plot).
PS – If you’re going to check this out and you’re in the Austin area, writer/director Patrick Brice will be doing Q&A at select screenings this weekend. Make sure you ask about the prosthetic penises!
6 out of 10