Netflix A-Z: The Overnight (2015)

Next up on in the Netflix A-Z is The Overnight.  Its a rather spontaneous choice on my part. Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling seems like a good pair-up.  I don’t have much of an issue with either of them although Adam Scott hasn’t really done anything that I’m particularly fond of but I feel like he just hasn’t found the movie that works for him completely.  Maybe this one is, right?

Let’s check it out! 🙂

The Overnight (2015)

Director (and writer): Patrick Brice

Cast: Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, Judith Godreche, R. J. Hermes, Kyle Field

Alex, Emily, and their son, RJ, are new to Los Angeles. A chance meeting at the park introduces them to the mysterious Kurt, Charlotte, and Max. A family “playdate” becomes increasingly interesting as the night goes on.-IMDB

 The Overnight is one of those movies that kind of grow on you.  Its rather weird and quirky.  It hints at a swinger sort of night but surprisingly doesn’t quite deliver it exactly.  I didn’t quite enjoy some of the humor and some scenes were a little stupidly uncomfortable to watch (for me).  I can’t say that this is one I’d frequently go back to watch again but I can’t deny that I did have a relatively good time.  Its one of those movies that want to dive into something shallow and you keep waiting for that formulaic moment to start but it never quite does because it goes into a deeper tangent about marriage and relationships. Its pretty refreshing to watch something that surprises quite a bit in turning what was expected into something rather unpredictable.   But, this does still have quite a bit of nudity even if there are fake penises flopping about and then breasts.  Man, I don’t even want to think about the pornographic hits after I wrote that sentence….

Our main couple here is Alex and Emily, played by Adam Scott and Taylor Schilling, respectively.  Just like new couples moved here, they want to make new friends.  Within the first few moments, we already have a good grasp of who these characters are and a little bit about their personality.  I feel like Taylor Schilling never quite goes all out as much as she is in Orange is the New Black but then she always has a character that has a lot of emotions inside rather than out.  But then, she was the “smart” one here that saw a “bad” situation before it happens while her husband, played by Adam Scott, didn’t.  Adam Scott has a knack for playing these sort of roles: a little inner weakness, not so confident.  But then I don’t feel like I’ve seen enough of his movies to know.  There’s Krampus and Bachelorette. Maybe there’s something else.  He’s a little awkward and probably fits in his role well enough. But then, the humor doesn’t exactly dawn from him but the other couple.  I’ll talk about them in a moment but that’s not saying that they didn’t have a few moments that worked also but mostly when in conversations with the other couple’s interactions.

Now, the main weirdo couple here is this mysterious Kurt and Charlotte, played by Jason Schwartzman and Judith Godreche.  Right from the get-go, Kurt comes off as an odd character with a very questionable sense of humor.  They hide what they do quite a bit and they come off strange, like they have a secret agenda going on.  Well, for us viewers, its that we start getting more and more hints that they are trying to seduce Alex and Emily in the most awkward way.  They bring up weird conversations and share their bizarre passions.  Except they do it so naturally that it slowly becomes their character.  As we move along, we realize that this couple that seems to have everything from big penis to sexy body seems to really not be all that happy with where they are.  Something about them is definitely off and just like we peel back on the layers of problem with Alex and Emily, we start seeing theirs exposed step by step also.

That is the charm of The Overnight.  Its characters, their odd and awkward moments and the hidden message that this movie was trying to expose with a much more fun and frisky sort of front.  The Overnight is a lot of things but to me, they truly did succeed at breaking out from the normal cliches.  Its a movie that while I was watching, I didn’t realize I was invested in the characters and how much I enjoyed it until it ended.

Overall, The Overnight is a fun little indie film.  Its characters brings out the story while adding a little humor and entertainment.  It does share something more despite what it looks like it is trying to do.  However, this is a comedy and those are subjective.   I can’t exactly recommend it but if you like quirky and weird indie films, you might enjoy this one. 🙂