Self Reliance
★★★ 1/2
Self Reliance is flat-out entertaining. It has been a while since I have watched a film that creates an ideal balance of not having to think too much and keeping you guessing along the way. Writer/director Jake Johnson (from New Girl fame) plays Tommy, who is offered a million dollars from Andy Samberg (himself) to play a game in which he has to avoid being killed by hunters in a 30-day timeframe. The loophole is that if you aren't by yourself, you can't be killed, but Tommy has a hard time convincing his loved ones that this game is being filmed and promoted over the dark web.
Johnson creates a perfect balance of comedy, suspense and romance without taking himself or the material too seriously. You can always feel like there is a smirk behind the camera about how silly this all is, and he plays Tommy the same way. I can see how people may not vibe with Johnson's persona, but if you find him charming, you will easily roll along with this fun and ridiculous premise. This film is produced by The Lonely Island crew, so that should tell you if you think you'll laugh or not. But this movie has a little more meat to its concept and creates characters that we care about. Tommy strikes up an unlikely relationship with Maddy (Anna Kendrick), and as always, Kendrick knows exactly how to tap into the tone of the material. A lot is missed when she's away, but Johnson continually pushes the story forward and intentionally so, Maddy always sticks in the back of your mind.
If characters such as a P.A. Ninja, 7 Foot Man and Sinbad Guy don't entice you to watch this film, this may not be for you. But I think you'll find yourself chuckling and shaking your head along with Tommy and learn a little bit about the importance of relationships along the way.
