People come to a relationship from different places, even if they’ve known each other practically forever. Their perceptions of a healthy dynamic may not be the same based on their own experiences growing up, and they may also have learned values based on their own families that aren’t in sync. Not having been alive for the same amount of time – or having been through the same key life cycle events – can also present problems for a relationship as it grows, especially if one party believes the other needs to know what’s out there before they firmly commit to each other.
Wendy (Dakota Fanning) lives in Alaska and is in a wonderful relationship with Jack (Jake Johnson), embraced so much by his children that they beg her to spend the night at their house. But when Wendy’s best friend (Debby Ryan) tells her she’s pregnant, Wendy is reminded of where other people expect her to be at this stage of life, prompting a conversation with Jack in which he suggests and then insists that Wendy take some time to explore other options for herself. When Wendy’s ex Chuck (Cory Michael Smith) shows up back in town, Wendy finds herself pulled back to him and Jack expresses considerable distress and regret over what he had earlier thought was a good idea.
This film comes from writer-director Joe Swanberg, best known for his mumblecore films. His latest feature film features a more specific and set structure, though its dialogue is still defined by back-and-forth exchanges of passion from people who don’t really know what they want, and certainly not what they want to do so in the heat of the moment. It does feel spectacularly unrehearsed, with confrontations its characters wish they could take back or would have played differently, which enhances the realism and relatability of these decidedly imperfect protagonists.
Fanning has been busy lately with a range of TV work, diving deep into drama on shows like Ripley and All Her Fault. It’s nice to see her in a lighter part here, even if it does feel like the weight of the world is on her shoulders when she moves from one loving, healthy relationship that may not give her something she’s always wanted to a less objectively cozy dynamic that delivers a completely different feeling of excitement that may not turn into lifelong satisfaction. She balances it all well, and it’s fun to watch as she starts to realize that she doesn’t necessarily have a clear preference between her two options and constantly feels pulled in both directions.
Johnson, who collaborated previously with Swanberg on 2013’s Drinking Buddies, has established for himself a sarcastic, goofy nature with roles in New Girl and other projects. Here, all that is stripped away, and there is a more mature, stripped-down presentation of someone who thinks he has his life together only to realize that he’s made a very big mistake by trying to be forward-thinking and magnanimous, potentially sacrificing the best thing in his life because of what he believes to be an innate goodness. He and Fanning have great chemistry, and watching them throughout all the rollercoaster moments of their relationship is a delight.
A strong ensemble cast ensures that this isn’t just a question of how this couple will make it through by offering very worthwhile alternate possibilities for both its leads in the form of Smith and Karley Sciortino, as well as Anna Konkle as Jack’s ex-wife, with whom he has a shockingly healthy relationship. This film’s Anchorage setting also adds to its poignancy, even if it is only explicitly referenced once, still offering a homier feel to the way people know each other and come in and out of this faraway, unique place. Swanberg delivers something rich and insightful here about best laid plans and the things that really matter, and the missteps we all make on the road to happiness.
Movie Rating: 8/10
