Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Safety Not Guaranteed

What is it about?

Co-workers answer the ad of a man looking for a partner in time travel, and instead end up taking risks they never thought their work trip would confront them with. 

Who is in it? 

Aubrey Plaza - Darius

Mark Duplass - Kenneth

Jake Johnson - Jeff

Karan Soni - Arnau

Favorite Scene: 

After locating him in the supermarket, Darius walks up to Kenneth and engages in an awkward conversation that entices him to choose her as a potential partner for his time travel. 

Favorite Quote: 

Darius: There's no sense in nonsense, especially when the heat's hot. 
---
Kenneth: Ever faced certain death? 
Darius: If it was so certain, I wouldn't be here. Would I? 

Review: 

Safety Not Guaranteed in an a nutshell is a big surprise. Upon reading the description on the back of the DVD and the general aura of the title, it seems like a movie that is silly, and funny. While SNG is outright funny indeed, as the film progresses, it moves from comedy, to intriguing, to a grand message of taking risks in life, love, and relationships. 

The time travel plot drives the movie as it is taken as a joke early on, before really morphing into a multitude of meanings about life, specifically the characters past, their present, and how we allow those things to affect our future. 

Aubrey Plaza, who really does a fine job in the role of Darius, however, the character really isn't much different from her role on NBC's Parks and Recreation. Mark Duplass is excellent in his role as the weird but emotional Kenneth, but Jake Johnson really carries the film as Jeff who knows that his life is a bit shallow because he never took real risks. 

Safety Not Guaranteed is a really good movie that has a flexibility of transforming through it's short 86 minutes. Which is another testament to it's amazing ability to be that great with such short running time. 

A highly recommended film. 

Grade: 3.25/5

Recent Favorites

Quick Ponder: The Long Way

The long way is, the best way,  if the Lord is on it. 

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/15/24

3 Up 1. James Earl Jones - The voice GOAT. But I'll always remember him in one of my favorite movies, Coming to America , in the absolute epic role of King Joffe Joffer. "Where is my son, Akeem!". A great gift to us.   2. A'ja Wilson - The WNBA has entered our mainstream sports landscape because of Caitlin Clark. Yes, that is very true. But there is an amazing talent in A'ja Wilson who continues to dominate, and this week, she set the single-season scoring record and likely will do the same in smashing the single-season rebound record.  3. Inflation Lowest in 3 Years - I know it's a hot-button issue during this election season. BUT! It is the lowest it's been in three years. I'm not crediting or blaming anyone! Just saying! Enjoy the change, y'all.  3 Down 1. Trump Shooting at Golf Course - Look, this is crazy. No matter how you feel about Trump, your thoughts on him as a Presidential candidate, or anything else regarding politics, this should NOT

Thoughts on Second 2024 Presidential Debate

That was soooooooooo much different than what we witnessed in the first debate.  So. Much. Different.  Yet, why does it still feel like not much was impacted? Overall, I stepped away from this debate with the overarching theme that Kamala Harris did what she needed to do. And that was not engage in a pity back-and-forth with Trump who wants to muddy the waters of any debate or discourse, force him to bring something new to the table and force him to get into a policy discussion beyond the usual surface sayings and fire-alarm narratives.  She did that.  For Trump. He has his voters. He is not losing them. But I thought Trump didn't do enough to interest those voters who have soured on him as well as those who are not yet sold on Kamala (this administration, or even the Democratic Party).  We saw the same from Trump. No need to answer questions. Dictate the narrative with what you want. Reply with emotion. Evade policy discussion. And you know, be Trump.  Was there a winner? In a tra