During a wedding in Palm Springs two strangers, Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Christin Milioti), connect in the most unusual of ways. As they begin to forge a simple, sexual relationship, a monkey wrench is thrown in their plans. The two end up in a mysterious cave that has them destined to repeat the current day forever. With the two now stuck together for what appears to be an endless amount of time, they will struggle to understand the meaning of life and with their new found friendship. They will both attempt to never leave and find the answer to ending this interesting and intense reality.
Andy Samberg is not necessarily known for taking part in films that require great talent. He is often seen in films acting ridiculous with plotlines that don’t typically require a lot of thought. Palm Springs changes fans’ minds and allows them the opportunity to see what Samberg is capable of. Much of this is a testament not just to the talent that Samberg possesses, but to the writing of Andy Siara and direction of Max Barbakow. The two do a wonderful job of constructing a story and a film that fits what Samburg is capable of and allows him to truly showcase his talent. Palm Springs is full of silly comedy that allows him to be what audiences know him best to be, but it dives into the human psyche, pulls at human emotion and creates human connections that are accessible by all audiences. Samberg surprisingly exceeds any expectations that audiences may have had prior to watching the film, and he becomes more than just the funny man. He is not simply part of the emotional scenarios present in the film, he helps to create them. He brings the heartbreak to life and makes connections to the real world that viewers are able to appreciate in ways that they never thought possible.
The story itself is ridiculous. The idea of two individuals being stuck in an infinite time loop may cause a lot of potential viewers to turn up their noses and reject the premise. I can assure you that beyond the absurdities attached to the premise of Palm Springs, viewers will become part of a world that mirrors reality and betters their understanding of what it means to be human. Palm Springs allows audiences to appreciate each of their relationships more than before, understand the significance of setting and achieving goals and, maybe more important than anything else, love is one of the most important and incredible things one will ever experience. These are not things that people have come to expect from Samberg, but they are certainly what viewers will find when watching Palm Springs.
Backtracking just a bit, Samberg is not the only one who shines brightly throughout the film. Palm Springs is full of talented individuals who help solidify the story and tantalize audiences. Tyler Hoechlin (Abe), J.K. Simmons (Roy) and Camila Mendes (Tala) are just a few of the names that make the film possible. Their expertise keeps audiences guessing, feeling emotional and understanding the deftness of Siara’s story. Even in the silliest of moments, the precision of each actor’s ability shines through and puts audiences on notice that they possess a serious and genuine talent.
I am impressed with how quickly Palm Springs is able to develop the story without it feeling rushed in any way. The story, the characters and the themes are developed beautifully and audiences are able to come to terms with the ludicrous aspects of the film and begin understanding the more principal themes present. Palm Springs appears on the outside to possess little more than a few laughs, but it provides significantly more, including life lessons and genuine emotion.
Directed by Max Barbakow. Written by Andy Siara. Starring Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons, Peter Gallagher, Meredith Hagner, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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