Conceived by writer Derek Connolly, and realized by director Colin Trevorrow, their debut feature was inspired by this real-life joke ad that appeared in Backwoods Home Magazine in 1997:
Wanted: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You'll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before.
In story, this ad gets the attention of Jeff (Jake M. Johnson), a writer at a Seattle magazine. He and two interns, the protagonist Darius (Aubrey Plaza) and Arnau (Karan Soni), go on a road trip to find the mystery writer of the ad. He turns out to be Kenneth (Mark Duplass), a meager clerk and a seemingly paranoid nutcase. Darius's personality wins him over, and thus, a story is certain. But it's not actually the story they think they're gonna get.
What makes the film work is its writing and acting working together. Its ensemble, particularly Plaza and Duplass, are all likable people. Even if they're eccentric or irresponsible, they behave like real people you might like to meet. When several plot twists derail their expectations, the audience is just as surprised as they are. But at the end of the story, the payoff to the premise is wonderful. It's only 86 minutes long, which means that it gets to the point with quick precision.
Overall, the point is that the impossible can be possible. That point is made so appealing that one can't help but smile after they see the film. That's why Safety Not Guaranteed is worth the time if you can find it in a theater.
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