The Overnight (2015) Reviews

• Odd, dark, and very unpredictable

  Red_Identity2015-09-13

  This is one of those films where the less you know, the better. As an overall film it is incredibly difficult to judge in terms of its merits. The film is really its own creation and it beats to its own rhythm. The cast is very strong, and the film is surely entertaining throughout. Because it's so unpredictable, there's a certain joy to get from just wondering where it'll all go. For that reason, it's more of a film that will be a lot stronger on first viewing. I don't know how it'll really hold up on rewatches, but I suspect it'll lose a lot. I had a great time watching it, but I also don't know if to recommend it because I feel like many people (and I say that with emphasis on many) will hate the film and what it eventually becomes.

  More

• A little sincerity pierces through this oddball mumblecore comedy.

  Sergeant_Tibbs2015-09-15

  Short and sweet, Patrick Brice's foursome mumblecore The Overnight is disguised as a more accessible comedy, headlined by Adam Scott and Jason Schwartzman along with Taylor Schilling. Thriving on awkward humour at the expense of new age lifestyles and anxieties, it treads a fine line of endearingly goofy, unexpectedly incisive and plain weird. However, in its brief runtime, it spends sequences on the mundane, highlighting a couple relatable aspects such as Scott's believable inability to make real friends. Its theme of sexual desires outside of monogamy brings to light a harsh truth that many would quietly acknowledge and it's sparked by the idea of that freedom, though it's an energy that's swiftly interrupted. It's not very visually inspired, including two very dangly and infamous props, but Taylor Schilling is a bright spark of the cast while Adam Scott holds his own in a feature film. Meanwhile Schwartzman is less of a person than a caricature but that is surely the intention behind the pair to bring out the humanity in Schilling and Scott. The Overnight earns a few chuckles and a few insights but it's mostly held back by its brevity but it has a sincerity through all the slight wackiness that makes it work, if just a little bit. 7/10

  More

• Enjoyable laid back comedy

  deloudelouvain2016-02-08

  I didn't want to read any reviews before watching the movie so it would not spoil the story. I just saw the scores that were mixed, so I was wondering which side I would be on. And I have to admit I did enjoy the movie. It was quirky, sometimes a little provocative, but I had a couple good laughs. And I am absolutely not a fan of Adam Scott. I don't know why, there is just something that bugs me about him. But in this movie he was okay, not great, just okay. Jason Schwartzman though he makes me laugh. It's not a movie that will make you laugh all the time, but there are some situations that definitely will give you a smile on your face. I can get that some people won't like it, because nobody has the same sense of humor. But for me it was worth a watch.

  More

• Sometimes, at a party you don't really know whats going on... Then, when you think a little later and the only word you can say is F*****************CK!

  afallguns2015-09-08

  First of all... F************************CK! Moving on! Earlier this year, when the trailer to overnight was released, I was sure that I would watch it and it would be awesome, for three reasons: Adam Scott, Jason Schwartzman and the Duplass Brothers. That far I was already sold! Then you got Taylor Schilling and Judith Godrèche, two beautiful and very talented women, in a plot about "swinging". Shut up and take my money! In the start, it felt like Noah Baumbach's "While We're Young". The uptight couple meets the hipsters and so and so. For a minute I thought that it would be silly, when Jason Schwartzman came on screen at first. But it turned alright or even better with the development of the characters. The four actors were totally in tune, and each one of them filled completely their spot, like pieces of a puzzle, fitting exactly in their places and together creating a image. Kurt the all-over-the- place host, being the smooth, nice and easy, confident and attractive as it gets; Charlotte, the foreigner wife, sexy and exotic, that beauty of the unknown, the dubious french woman; Alex as the uptight and insecure guy, looking for someone else's approval; and at last, not least, Emily the perfect guest and faithful wife, who don't let the embarrassment become a border between she and her hosts. It is the first time I watched Taylor Schilling work, but I was aware of her award worth acting in Jenji Kohan's "Orange is The New Black", so I didn't expect anything but good and sincere performance, and gladly she did not let me down. I might say that, analyzing the individual performances, she was the real deal in the movie. She was so sincere with the camera, that anything that her character felt was real, don't matter if she was uncomfortable, horny, suspicious or jealous. Emily was less of a character and more of a real person. Different than the other three characters. Kurt and Charlotte were some kind of caricature, they were in a super reality, stuff you don't usually see in real life (That doesn't mean that people like Kurt and Charlotte don't walk through the real world). And Alex. Well, I feel like Adam Scott played that role a couple times already, the most recent I think is in Stu Zicherman's "A.C.O.D.". Despite all of that, as I said, all their performances together were amazing. Product of a brilliant work in the script as well in the directing. Patrick Brice deserve all the compliments for his second featured film (I think it is considered featured film with 79 minutes, right?). The story is very clever. It is a portrait of the marriage at the 21st century, and the sexual life of couples with young kids. It talks about insecurities, curiosity and acceptance. It the full plate. One of my favorite scenes is the first one, where Alex and Emily were having a morning sex, and they got trouble to reach the climax with each other, and their son interrupt them. It was a really good start! Directing. As I said it was fearless. And very sincere. And to me what made this movie a winner. The montages of the two couples partying together, were extremely fun. The body language was captured at its details, and Patrick Brice shown to the audience what the audience needed to see, to understand what the hell was going on. Showing a full nude of a human being on screen is kind of hard. But in this movie was necessary. People needed to compare both genitalia, Kurt's and Alex's, to say "No, that's really an issue!". A visual euphemism would not work. You would see Jason Schwartzman and Adam Scott, don't matter how big or how small both penises were. And you got Kurt and Charlotte, the free spirits. Alex's breakthrough. Again visual euphemism wouldn't work. AND IS A MOVIE ABOUT SEX LIFE FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! Would be hypocrite not show anything. I admit that I wasn't totally comfortable with the scenes with the full nude. I think that my reaction was pretty much like Emily's reaction. I was embarrassed, cause people don't just take off their underwear and walk around naked as if it was nothing. But it turned out O.K.! I got the idea. This isn't porn cause it showed a penis. But for me the most intelligent shot was the climax scene, when after a group hug, the four characters fall into bed and start the foursome, the director didn't put some music playing in the background. No dialogue either. It was completely silent, except for the sound of their kisses. It felt again like the real thing, not some artificial situation with a cute or sexy music, to symbolize something. It was just the characters. Anyway. It is a must see. And open your mind just a little bit, before watching it. I assure you it will be a lot of fun.

  More

• It's an insightful (and extremely odd) look at human nature!

  Hellmant2015-09-22

  'THE OVERNIGHT': Four Stars (Out of Five) Raunchy sex comedy flick, written and directed by indie filmmaker Patrick Brice. It stars Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman and Judith Godreche; as two sets of parents, one conservative and one unconventional, who meet for a playdate between their two sons, which leads to much more. It was produced by Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Adam Scott and Naomi Scott; on a budget of just $200,000. I found it to be odd, disturbing and very funny. Alex (Scott) and Emily (Schilling) just moved to Los Angeles, with their young son RJ (R.J. Hermes). They meet Kurt (Schwartzman), and his son Max (Max Moritt), at a park; and Kurt invites them over for a family playdate. Alex and Emily accept the invitation, and they meet Kurt's wife, Charlotte (Godreche), upon arrival. Things go from strange, to crazy, after the two kids fall asleep. The movie is quirky, and hilariously funny, in places. Most of the time it's extremely uncomfortable, and disturbing, as well; watching these characters have these extremely awkward and bizarre encounters. That's what's so good about the movie though, even more so than it's witty humor, is just it's insightful (and extremely odd) look, at human nature. The movie is definitely worth seeing just for that. Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://youtu.be/bOI7ZdxfHTQ

  More