Safety Not Guaranteed Review

     In today's society, people use the classifieds for a whole slew of reasons, finding love, finding work, finding bargains, but Safety Not Guaranteed is the story of a rather unique request, a classified ad seeking out 'someone to go back in time with me'. This is not just today's Back to the Future, rather, it's a very human and heartfelt story, the type that relies almost solely on the performances of it's few leads. Is this a film worth your time? I give my thoughts after the jump.
      Safety Not Guaranteed is ultimately the story of Aubrey Plaza's character, Darius, an intern at a general interest magazine, who is brought on board by Jeff (played by Jake Johnson) to cover the story of a man seeking a partner to travel back in time with. The story is certainly a unique one, and this is what makes the film so enjoyable. 
     The film's plot is rather shrouded in secrecy, as uncovering the truth about this story along with the journalists is what truly sucks you in, and makes each new scene exciting and intriguing to watch. Because of this I will ultimately stay away from the plot, and allow you to uncover it for yourself, if you wish to watch.
     This is a film that is hugely benefited by a great performances from a few leads, and luckily this is the case with Safety Not Guaranteed. At it's core, despite it's rather ridiculous plot, the film's theme always returns to the importance of human connection, and this is where the film's cast makes it shine. 
     Aubrey Plaza is engrossing as Darius, an intern who is still trying to find her place in this confusing place we all call home. She is a little damaged, a little skeptical, and all these qualities make her a character one you easily find yourself rooting for. The other performance I found myself most impressed with besides Plaza's is that of Jake Johnson's Jeff (tongue twister) who some may recognize from Zooey Deschanel's show, New Girl, as he plays a large part in it. Johnson at first seems to be simply the comic relief for the film, and while this is enjoyable, the writers make his existence stretch beyond a few laughs, and Johnson does extremely well with the added dimension to his character. This makes you find yourself drawn into his story almost as much if not equally to that of Darius'.
     Of course the final role I have to talk about is the believer himself, Kenneth, played by Mark Duplass. In physical appearance alone he fits the character, he is a little rugged looking, with a surprising honesty behind his eyes. These qualities make his ridiculous character believable, as the role could have easily been played hopelessly kooky, but again, there is more than it seems to what would appear to be basic character.
      Safety Not Guaranteed is not a film for those who need fast-paced constant action. The film is a story that comes together in a truly enjoyable fashion if you let it, leading up to a fantastic conclusion. It is benefited by strong performances from top to bottom, and ultimately it is a story of heart, redemption, and the belief of basic goodness in others. Safety Not Guaranteed is reminder of the importance of indie films, and the heart they can often carry themselves with that bigger studios sometimes struggle to find. For those feeling lost in big picture productions, looking for a down to earth story, Safety Not Guaranteed may have arrived just in time to remind you of the fantasy of cinema all over again.