'The Overnight' A Review

The Overnight is a relationship dramedy about a couple who are new to LA and meet an eccentric father Kurt(Jason Schwartzman) through their respective children at a playground. They form a tentative friendship and Kurt invites Alex(Adam Scott) and Emily(Taylor Schilling) over for dinner and a playdate. Alex and Emily attend with their son in toe but when the boys go to sleep the parents drink and smoke weed late into the night. Debauchery ensues.

The film rides a fine line between drama and farce, making some broad and interesting points about fidelity and sexuality while still providing a substantial amount of laughs. It is able to explore the concept of sustaining a marriage while flaunting prosthetic penises and paintings of buttholes. The four actors are the real reason the film works- giving charming, likable, empathetic performances while navigating substance use and somewhat taboo matters of sex. No character in the film is suspect they are all genuine, there is nothing duplicitous going on although at times it feels like there might be.

There are a a lot of surprises in the film. Not plot twists necessarily but scenes which progress down a certain path then turn to the unexpected. The subject matter and the unpredictability of the narrative are refreshing. A movie for 30-somethings about 30-somethings that has wider relationship applicability.

Although not entirely successful, at points it seems like its stretching or unsure of its tone, The Overnight provides significant humor and honesty in equal measure.

Rent It.