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8

LamontRaymondJun 21, 2015

One of the best surprises of the year. Beneath the well-earned laughs, there are some genuine truths about modern couples, and, significantly, about how men have body-image issues that can often rival those of their female counterparts.One of the best surprises of the year. Beneath the well-earned laughs, there are some genuine truths about modern couples, and, significantly, about how men have body-image issues that can often rival those of their female counterparts. Jason Schwartzman and Adam Scott are pretty amazing in their roles. It's a super-short movie, but an easy recommendation.… Expand

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7

NightReviewsJul 8, 2015

The notion play-date is one that is easily understandable in the world of children. Play-dates imply when children are taken to specific locations, play, interact, laugh, cry and then, eventually go home to rest for the next day of theirThe notion play-date is one that is easily understandable in the world of children. Play-dates imply when children are taken to specific locations, play, interact, laugh, cry and then, eventually go home to rest for the next day of their exciting and fruitful lives. The terms and conditions of the play-date for adults are still, for the most part, under strict and heavy analysis and consideration. The Overnight is a film that looks to push the boundaries of adult play-dates, often times with unexpected, shocking, and completely bewildering results.

Moving from Seattle to the liberated and highly hipster LA with their young child RJ (R.J Hermes), square couple Alex and Emily (played by Adam Scott and Taylor Schilling) seem to have a hard time making new friends. Luckily for them, R.J was able to land a prestigious invite to a birthday party at a park where Alex awkwardly and unsuccessfully tries to assimilate with the parents of the birthday boy. Luckily for the highly emasculated Alex, Emily, who feels guilt ridden going to work rather than staying with her boys, saves the birthday by showing up with a bag of gummy-worms. RJ is happy, Alex is saved from immense solitude, and what begins as an average awkward meet-cute between parents becomes an invitation from the mysterious Kurt (Jason Schwartzman).

Kurt, who may or may not be a practicing vegan on a cleanse, invites Alex and Emily to their warm estate home just up the hill from the park in hopes of acquainting the new couple to the neighbourhood, touring schools out for RJ, and a offering them a chance to get to know the unofficial “mayor” of the neighbourhood, himself. It all seems quirky and awkward at first, which is exactly what we expect.

At Kurt’s house, Alex and Emily meet Charlotte (Judith Godrèche), the very beautiful and exotic French wife to Kurt. As expected, the two couples shares stories of work, friendship, and their relationships, until, very early on, Alex and Emily decide to go home because of RJ’s exhaustion.

“Only in America do we let children dictate when when the night is over!”, exclaims an overly excited Charlotte, while Alex and Emily look at each other in agreement. So what begins as an innocent night of acquittance, like any good horror film, becomes a night of deep future regret.

It’s not that we have to question who the stranger of the couples are, but as the film progresses The Overnight becomes a highly self-reflective film of relationship parameters and examines the motives and hobbies of people, while begging to ask the question as to who the “normal” and “eccentric” couple really is.

For starters, the film begins with Alex and Emily in bed intimately attempting to arouse one another until both come to a collective agreement that entails the two of them quickly laying on their backs and masturbating until each one has orgasmed. Really, how normal is that?

I mean sure, the film itself, thanks to the peculiarity of the script and direction of its creative mastermind Patrick Brice, asks who the “weird” couple may be, thanks to Charlotte’s ten year itch, Kurt’s “portal” paintings, and Charlote’s interesting acting career. Yet, boundaries are pushed, egos are blown up, and mysteries are revealed – sometimes to anything but normal results – but nonetheless, The Overnight is a film that will keep you highly intrigued.

In less than eighty minutes, Brice’s highly confusing and sexually driven comedy/drama runs big circles around your head asking important questions of masculinity, femininity, sexuality, and mostly really asking the question of: what is going on here?

One of the biggest strengths of The Overnight is its ability to depict a shrewd picture of the possibilities of parental bliss. Brice, who has amazing skill in sending hyper-real images in different directions, chosen solely by its audience members, topples and turves reality with surrealism. In early scenes, Kurt, who shows an immense passion for putting his youngest son Max (Max Moritt) to bed, uses mood lighting, incense, and keyboard chords, could easily be mistaken for a seasoned pedophile. Yet, the narrative swiftly and slyly changes its gaze to that of the children in bed, to the innocence and insecurities of Alex – a man who is glorified and praised for most of the night – but belittled for the majority of his life. While Kurt wisps away the children into dreamland, Alex is comforted by Emily’s warm hands…and Charlotte’s?

Essentially, The Overnight becomes a film that is a neon and unbelievable portal to the oddities of every person’s deepest and darkest desires, staying in the radius realms of the challenges and thought of monogamy, boredom and adultery. Highly sexualized, unapologetic, and crudely graphic, the film may not be perfect for new couples to watch, but it surely is a fantastic way to awkwardly invite you and your loved one to one of your’s friends place for dinner.… Expand

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8

ydnar4Sep 9, 2015

I’m still not sure if I’m a fan of the Duplass brothers yet. Their films are almost always in the comedy genre but I never manage to find them very funny. I really enjoyed Jeff, Who Lives at Home but because of its story not its comedy. II’m still not sure if I’m a fan of the Duplass brothers yet. Their films are almost always in the comedy genre but I never manage to find them very funny. I really enjoyed Jeff, Who Lives at Home but because of its story not its comedy. I found that this movie was sort of like that as well because even though the film was marketed as a comedy it really didn’t feel that funny. The brothers and Patrick Brice really craft an interesting story with this film with a very small budget of only 200,000 dollars. This story is very well written and it has lots of shock value and it is very unpredictable.

There are great performances from the four main stars which are the only characters in the film that really matter. I was particularly impressed by Scott and Schwartzman specifically. I have always enjoyed Adam Scott and I found him really funny on Parks and Recreation and Schwartzman is a guy that I will have to check out in more movies because he did a hell of a job here.

The Overnight is just a great indie film that is well acted, well directed, and well written. I recommend it.… Expand

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10

TheQuietGamerFeb 18, 2016

Writer and director Patrick Brice proves once again that he can create original and excellent movies in a time where Hollywood seems out of ideas. After blowing my mind with the horror-comedy "Creep" I was curious to see what Brice could doWriter and director Patrick Brice proves once again that he can create original and excellent movies in a time where Hollywood seems out of ideas. After blowing my mind with the horror-comedy "Creep" I was curious to see what Brice could do with just focusing on one genre with "The Overnight." The results are astounding.

It's become a trend in modern, big-budget comedies to take a normal premise and attempt to make it hilarious by having the characters get involved in increasingly insane situations, ever since The Hangover back in 2009. As more and more comedies attempt to do this the results seem to grow more and more disappointing outside of the rare exception.

Brice kind of the same thing here. However the reason it succeeds is that no matter how crazy things get onscreen it all feels grounded in reality. This is stuff you could see happening in real life if the right people got together. Heck, this stuff most likely happens more often in real life than many of us know. That's what makes this twisted adult play date all the more compelling and hilarious.

Recycled jokes are aplenty in comedies nowadays. So it's refreshing to see a movie do things you just don't expect to see. Of course none of those new ideas would matter if they weren't funny. Luckily for us Patrick Brice is kind of a genius with comedy here and has an incredibly talented cast to back him up.

Not only is this movie funny, but it's real and has a lot of heart to go along with it's shocking gags. Commitment, love, lust, body issues, and that thought in the back of every married couples mind that says "I'm not totally happy with my marriage" are all on display. It's a story about staying true to your partner and working past your issues, as well as a tale about having a little fun. Yet, it's also so much more.

It's a movie that gets you thinking as much as it gets you laughing, and it will get you laughing a lot. It's sick, sweet, and maybe even a little deranged. It's a lot of hilarious, sexy fun and one of the best comedies I've ever seen. Patrick Brice proves once again that he is a genius by delivering, not one, but two incredible movies in the same year. Creep was darn near close to a masterpiece, and The Overnight blows it out of the water. I can't recommend it enough.… Expand

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7

vgmkyleSep 20, 2015

The Overnight is an unpredictable movie about swingers courting normal; everyday people. It's definitely one of the strangest movies I have seen in a while, but at least it's well acted and mostly funny.

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3

SpangleJan 19, 2016

Odd and incredibly unpredictable, there is nothing wrong with the characterization of the characters here and the casting is perfect. Jason Schwartzman in particular stands out as a perfect fit for his role and is truly odd and kind of funny.Odd and incredibly unpredictable, there is nothing wrong with the characterization of the characters here and the casting is perfect. Jason Schwartzman in particular stands out as a perfect fit for his role and is truly odd and kind of funny. However, what The Overnight has in pure oddity and plot twists, it lacks in comedy. Labeled a comedy, it is never funny and all of the jokes fall flat entirely. There are a few times I chuckled, but not very many, which is problematic. In spite of that, the film is really entertaining so even if it not my cup of tea, it never steers into unwatchable territory. Overall, The Overnight commits many mortal sins, of which the worst may be it being entirely unfunny.… Expand