Safety Not Guaranteed
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fresh sci-fi comedy has strong language, a little raciness.
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Based on 2 parent reviews
Don't bother.
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Quirky, funny
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What's the Story?
Darius Britt (Aubrey Plaza), who works as an unpaid intern at a Seattle magazine, has learned to view life cynically and with her guard up. Reporter Jeff (Jake M. Johnson) pitches an unusual story about a classified ad: A man wants to go back in time and seeks a partner. And so, along with Jeff and another intern, Arnau (Karan Soni), Darius heads for Ocean View to meet the time traveler, Kenneth (Mark Duplass). Kenneth immediately sniffs out Jeff as a fake, but he clicks with Darius. As they prepare for their trip, Darius finds herself growing attached to the weird misfit. But is he really crazy, or can he actually travel through time?
Is It Any Good?
Writer Derek Connolly and director Colin Trevorrow make their feature debut with this genre-twisting sci-fi comedy, and we can only hope we see a lot more of them. Though Safety Not Guaranteed is comfortable and pleasing, it's also amazingly fresh, concentrating on its characters and emotions rather than on a collection of visual effects, genre staples, or gratuitous thrills. (The movie's lone car chase happens well below the speed limit.)
Die-hard sci-fi fans may be disappointed that time travel isn't really part of the main plot, but viewers should clue into the star performance by Plaza. She uses her trademark cynicism for laughs and eventually softens up in a genuine way, bringing her heart into her role. The rest of the cast, including recognizable faces in tiny roles (Kristen Bell, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jeff Garlin, etc.), brings similar zing to their characters. Safety Not Guaranteed feels for all the world like a homemade movie, finished with guts and shoestrings, with a strong dose of love.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how sex is portrayed in Safety Not Guaranteed. What role does it play in the story and the characters' lives?
If you could travel back in time, where would you go, and what would you do? Would you change a major historical event or do something more personal?
Do you know anyone like Kenneth, whom everyone thinks is "weird" but could actually be a nice person? How are people like that typically treated?
Why do you think Jeff drinks so much (and smokes) after getting rejected? What message does that send?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 8, 2012
- On DVD or streaming: October 30, 2012
- Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Jake M. Johnson, Mark Duplass
- Director: Colin Trevorrow
- Inclusion Information: Bisexual actors, Latinx actors
- Studio: FilmDistrict
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 94 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language including some sexual references
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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