Jake Johnson’s directorial debut sells itself short.
Jake Johnson is a fresh talent. I enjoyed him in “Drinking Buddies,” “Let’s Be Cops,” “Jurassic World,” “Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse,” and “Ride the Eagle.” Now, he makes his directorial debut of “Self Reliance,” which has entered “Ready or Not” and “Purge” territory, as he plays a man being targeted by killers. Only instead of him being part of a Satan ritual or a new law, he’s now part of a dark web series.
Unfortunately, this concept would have worked better without the cliches of the following protagonist being accused of being crazy and if it were possible took this specific genre to new heights. If Johnson wants to enter filmmaking territory, than he should examine how such comedy stars like Seth Rogen or Bo Burnham or Jordan Peele can pull them off.
Johnson plays Tommy, a lonely, normal guy getting picked up in a limo by Andy Samberg, who offers him a position, which he accepts. He’s then taken to a warehouse, where he finds out he’s on a dark web reality show, in which participants are given 30 days to survive assassins, ninjas, and hunters. If they survive, they will win $1 million.
If he’s alone, they will try to kill him, but if he’s with other people, there’s no risk to anyone. His sister (Mary Holland), mother (Nancy Lenehan), and friends all think he’s crazy, and that’s making some kind of excuse to move on from a bad breakup with his ex (Natalie Morales). I mean how could they believe him? They’re supposed to be living in a semi-rational reality. I think you catch my drift.
He’s even willing to bring a homeless man named James (Biff Wiff from “Everything Everywhere All At Once”) home for protection, and decides to team up with another player named Maddy (Anna Kendrick). He only has 16 days left, while she has only 15, so sticking together may be their only chance of survival.
This is when the story partly becomes a romcom for the two, as they spend their days together having fun, while thinking a custodian dressed up as Mario (Ilia Volok) is one of their attackers. Now that’s a funny, nostalgic moment. Reuniting from “Drinking Buddies,” Johnson and Kendrick both have a likable chemistry as they patiently transcend from one genre to the next. But they also deserve a script that could really test their chemistry or their character developments.
You also have Christopher Lloyd as Tommy’s estranged father who comes back into his life, Wayne Brady as himself, Miriam Flynn as Maddy’s mom, and Eduardo Franco as one of the ninjas, who gives the main characters instructions on what to do next in the game.
“Self Reliance” has some good laughs and two fresh leads, but it doesn’t take much risks and sets itself back with the obligatory formulas, which can be handled better in other movies, but is flat here. I’ve grown weary of the behaviors the main character has to display in order to try to survive the game, and there are better ways of surviving than acting crazy. Obviously, I’ve never been in a nightmare like this before, but stars like Samara Weaving have handled things like this in smarter and brilliant ways.
I am grateful that Johnson doesn’t degrade himself like Simon Pegg did in “A Fantastic Fear of Everything,” and I wish him the best of luck in his next directing gig. I hope it’s more original and daring than “Self Reliance.” I think I’ll pass that $1 million offer, and go grab a hotdog.
Streaming on Hulu This Friday