Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

This indie time-travel flick is as outrageously funny as it is sincere and heartfelt. While the premise might have some movie-goers titillated by its sci-fi roots this isn't where the strength of the film lies. Or at least not where its emphasis is placed. It is the reason behind the characters motivation to time-travel into the past which really drags this film into brilliance. I know, I know – we don’t need another film that leads to romance to add to our already heaving shelves, but I assure you, this one is worth it. But hang on, I've jumped the gun and given quite a bit away in a short period. Let’s backtrack… 

The film takes centre stage around an ad placed by Kenneth (played by Mark Duplass) seeking out a partner to time-travel back into the past with. The ad goes like this: 

WANTED: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. P.O. Box 91 Ocean View, WA 99393. You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before. 

As ads go its short, to-the-point and bloody well intriguing. As well as, of course, completely crazy. So if you’re a journalist looking for another story to earn that monthly pay-check then this seems like a pretty good way to do it. Hey, you might even get a few laughs from it. This is what Jeff (Jake Johnson) thinks anyway – though he has ulterior motives for wanting to visit the town in which the crackpot ‘time-traveller’ lives. But we’ll get to that a little later. 

Then of course there are the requested interns: Darius and Arnau, who jump at the opportunity to become involved in the research and production of an actual story (anything’s better than re-filling the toilet paper dispensers.) There are the beginnings of the story, and I won’t go into too much detail on the rest. Mainly because I want to discuss the quality of the film and I don’t want to spoil it for you if you actually wind up watching this. 

Mark Duplass (left), plays our intrepid time-traveller Kenneth opposite Aubrey Plaza as Darius. 

As far as genre goes we have a pretty spliced up son-of-a-bitch here, and that is kind of what makes this film so bloody good. While you would expect this film to deal with the sci-fi elements more extensively, this isn't the direction it takes. This film has a surprising amount of heart and sentimentality behind it from the get-go and boy is it absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious. The deadpan lead Darius (played by Aubrey Plaza) develops a complex relationship with Kenneth based upon both her curiosity of this guy’s sanity and her desire to get a good story. With time though, Darius learns that it isn't Kenneth’s destination or sanity she really cares about, but the journey they both take in their endeavour to right the wrongs of their individual pasts. It’s a heart-warming realisation and leads to the inevitable romance between the two leads. 

So yeah, this isn't really a film about time-travel per see, but more about the things that develop out of regret and desire – the reasons for wanting to time-travel. Don’t get me wrong, this film isn't hugely “deep” (well, not in a tears-and-tissues-after-watching-Titanic type way) but it does explore certain issues that in more serious films could be a heart-breaking topic to discuss. Here though these topics are dealt with in a light-hearted and humorous manor which is ultimately quite touching. 

Jake Johnson plays the wannabe-Lothario reporter whilst he lets his intern-reporters do all the heavy lifting. These three play against each other with a natural and highly amusing rapport.

I particularly love Jake Johnson’s character in this film because when things get tense or dramatic he always comes in with a fabulous one-liner or dickhead-charming comment that saves this flick from becoming too serious. His story-line revolves around finding his high school sweetheart to discover whether she lives up to his memories of her as well as helping the charmingly-clueless intern Arnau finally get laid. While it’s not a particularly thrilling or original sub-plot on paper Johnson brings to it something new and hilarious that speaks of his talent and creativity as an actor.

Huge credit is owed to the writer of this unique little production Derek Connolly who approached each genre that this movie includes with a humour and relevance that is bewitching in its simplicity. Also of course, the director Colin Trevorrow who filmed this movie against an unexceptional background (plain town, plain clothes – nothing too extravagant or eye-catching) which is a rather brilliant ploy, because it allows the story to speak for itself. Beyond this great direction he also handpicked Plaza and Johnson and, in my opinion, made an excellent decision in doing so – the mixture of her deadpan humour with his outrageous-one-liners is brilliant to see onscreen and is an endearing quality to this already endearing film. 

If you have seen this film and enjoyed the writer/director duo’s work then you might be excited by their next collaboration – Jurassic Park IV. If these are the projects we can expect from Connolly and Trevorrow then I am very excited for this pair’s collaborative future. 


I’ll finish with this – if you’re looking for something new and quirky then Safety Not Guaranteed is your best bet for an entertaining night. The mish-mash of genres is excellent and refreshing. 

Interesting fact: This film is based upon an actual ad which appeared in Backwoods Home Magazine in 1997. It was written as a last-minute filler by John Silveira, an employee of the magazine, who is credited in the film as "Time Travel Consultant”. 

Best line: 

Jeff: There's something off about this guy, okay? So you gotta go slow, like you're trapping a skiddish animal. You lure him. Play coy. Girls know how to do that shit. 
Darius: You're dangling my vagina out there like bait. What if this guy's a murderer? What if he cuts me up to little pieces and eats me? 
Jeff: Then the story is even better. 

To cut a long story short… 

Would I recommend this? Er, duh-doy (that’s a Community reference. I hope you watch Community. If you don’t then you haven’t lived. Seriously, you just haven’t.) 
A film ramblers star rating? 

That’s it for now folks…