Joey Magidson
I will never not be fascinated when a comedic actor chooses to step behind the camera. Oftentimes, they make a comedy, but there are definitely instances in which there’s a quirk or curveball to it. Jake Johnson‘s film Self Reliance is no exception, as it opts to be a thriller as well as a comedy. Do all of the pieces work? No, not especially. Are you always interested in seeing where it goes next? Absolutely, so warts and all, this movie is easy to recommend.
Self Reliance has fits and starts, narratively, and does kind of fall apart in the end, but the moment to moment aspects of it are more successful than not. A lot of it is Johnson’s strong comic timing, as well as the genuine affection he has for his characters. Johnson the actor is ahead of Johnson the filmmaker, but I’m eager to see all aspects continue to evolve.
Tommy (Johnson) leads a boring life of routine and solitude. He’s clearly not okay after the end of a long relationship, but he claims that it’s not the issue. Mostly, he just doesn’t feel particularly alive anymore. One morning, a limosine pulls up next to him and Andy Samberg (Andy Samberg playing himself) asks him to get in. Being a fan of his, Tommy does, though it’s hardly a hang out. Andy has been paid to ask if Tommy wants to play a game. He fully expects him to say no, but he’s so bored, he says yes. Taken to an abandoned warehouse, he meets the makers of a reality television show. The offer made to him is as follows: if he can survive for 30 days while hunters attempt to kill him, he’ll win a million dollars. The catch? He can’t be harmed if he isn’t alone. Sensing a loophole, Tommy signs up.
While his family doesn’t believe him at all, sensing a potential mental break, they initially let him hang around, though his paranoia quickly gets him kicked out. Soon, he’s developed a friendship with homeless gentleman James (Biff Wiff), whom he pays to stay around them. Then, he gets a message from Maddy (Anna Kendrick), who says she’s also playing the game. A new core forms, though Tommy is constantly trying to figure out if the game is real or if he’s starting to lose it.
The cast buys into the premise wholeheartedly, which is clutch. Jake Johnson is the star and best in show, while Anna Kendrick is very good as well. The best scenes play up the budding chemistry between them. Biff Wiff is mostly in Johnson’s shadow, but it’s not a one-note performance or character, which I appreciated, while also having nice chemistry with the leading man as well. Supporting players here include, besides the aforementioned Andy Samberg, of course, Gata, Wayne Brady, Mary Holland, Christopher Lloyd, Natalie Morales, and more.
Jake Johnson makes his directorial debut here, while also writing the script (he co-wrote the Joe Swanberg film Digging for Fire several years ago). He directs himself well, even if his filmmaking style is a bit on the flat side. That being said, there’s a few very nice screenplay choices that separates this from just being a run of the mill indie comedy. In particular, I love how the relationship that Tommy has with James truly blossoms over the course of the film. It could have just been homeless jokes, but James is allowed to be a real character, with an actual friendship that develops. Kudos to Johnson for that choice.
Self Reliance is flawed, to be sure, but there’s more than enough here to make me want to see Johnson continue to work behind the camera. The more he builds on the premise, the sillier this gets, but when it’s just a character piece, there’s a lot to like. If you’re a Johnson fan, you’ll be very into this, as he’s front and center. Here’s hoping we see more from him as filmmaker very soon!
SCORE: ★★★
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