‘Palm Springs’ Review

The Groundhog Day concept has been done a lot since it came out. It was used in horror movies with Happy Death Day and in action/sci-fi movies with Edge of Tomorrow. Both figured out how to take the concept and do something creative with it. Palm Springs does the concept in a romantic comedy and does it with a lot of success.

Plot

Palm Springs stars Andy Samberg and Christin Miloti as two people who get stuck in a time loop while attending a wedding. Samberg has been stuck in the loop for a long time, while Miloti is new to the loop and is struggling to exist within it. 

Samberg has basically given up on finding meaning or purpose and brings Miloti into his reckless way of life. The two build a romance as they deal with ideas of intimacy, existence, and meaning inside of the loop.

Miloti and Samberg are perfect together

Romantic comedies are very dependent on the chemistry between the two leads and Miloti and Samberg have fantastic chemistry. They bounce off of one another very well and their bond feels real. Samberg is really funny as a man who has lost all purpose and has given in to the chaos. 

A lot of his lines are funny as he is unleashed. Miloti is also great as a character who has a tough exterior but is rather vulnerable and Miloti is great at balancing this. J.K. Simmons also has a supporting role in this movie and is hysterical in each scene that he is in. His tie to Samberg is a clever way of working within the time loop concept.

Uses the time loop schtick creatively

There are also clever ways that the film comes up with different situations for the characters to deal with. For example, Samberg will often experiment each day to get different outcomes. Sometimes he’ll deliver a speech, or get in a fight, or even try to steal the bride away during the first dance. 

What they do with Miloti’s character is interesting because she is waking up every day in a state of regret based on something she did the night before. It’s an interesting thing to do because now Miloti is trapped in a state of emotional torture as she is forced to wake up in a horrible situation, which leads to her being determined to find a way out. There are a surprising amount of twists and turns that the plot takes to make the concept not feel stale.

Most importantly, the film is filled with good comedy and a lot of heart. The ideas that the film has about existence and how important bonds are is a nice message that is laid out nicely throughout the movie. Life can feel pointless at times, but the people who are on the journey with us can make living have purpose. This idea is at the heart of this movie and gives it a lot of soul that some romantic comedies are missing.

Final verdict

Overall, Palm Springs is very enjoyable from beginning to end. It is a solid hour and a half and it feels like a perfect amount of time for this movie. It ends nicely without overstaying its welcome. Samberg is hilarious as always and I look forward to seeing Miloti in more stuff in the future. This is a nice story that will put a smile on your face and remind you about the importance of having a friend in this world.

Final score: 9/10