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iRate: Engaging characters in ‘Palm Springs’ bring meaning to repetition

By Jason Guyer
By Jason Guyer

At least once in everyone’s life, I imagine, there has been a day or moment that they have wanted to relive.

Now everyone would love to be stuck in their best day. But what if you were stuck in a loop of a random day? Or a day that was not so great for you?

Films that delve into the topic of time travel or the idea of time loops have always been a favorite. Bill Murray’s “Groundhog Day” is a staple in the genre and one of the best. But it is not the only one.

There are more than many may realize. There are “Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow” or the “Happy Death Day” films. Jake Gyllenhaal’s “Source Code” is another.

While all these are good films, especially “Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow,” I always preferred the time loop films where there is a love angle and the lead character learns important lessons or self-truths. “Groundhog Day” is like this. Bill Murray’s character does get out of the loop until he becomes a better person and falls in love with someone.

Hulu’s newest offering, “Palm Springs,” is darker and in some ways a better version of “Groundhog Day.” “Palm Springs” has broken records for streaming for the Hulu streaming service and, yes, the film is that good. The film deserves that status.

“Palm Springs” stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti in the lead roles as people stuck in a time loop. The pair are top notch but don’t sleep on J.K. Simmons either, who is also in the film.

Samberg and Milioti play two wedding guests who develop a budding romance while living the same day over and over again.

Samberg plays the character Nyles who starts the film as a goofy and out of place guy at a wedding.

The viewer soon learns why Nyles is stuck in a time loop and that is why he is in a more “relaxed” state than the others at this fancy wedding.

At the same time, a girl Nyles has chemistry with gets pulled into his time loop. Now the pair share the time loop together and Nyles tries to guide her through that realization.

Cristin Milioti plays Nyles’ time loop companion, Sarah. You may know her as the mother from “How I Met Your Mother.”

Trust me, “Palm Springs” does better by her character than they did on “How I Met Your Mother.” I mean come on, the show just to kill her off. Yes, the ending of “How I Met Your Mother” still has me a little salty, but I digress.

In “Palm Springs,” the chemistry between Andy Smaberg and Cristin Milioti is what carries this film. The movie has an engaging and wonderful story but it would be boring without chemistry between these two.

I mean it is a romantic comedy at its heart and if the chemistry between the leads in a romantic comedy is lacking or forced the film is never good. This goes for any romantic comedy.

The two actors’ chemistry is engaging and opens the viewer up to their experience. This works extremely well since their experience is a weird sci-fi type experience.

There may be those out there that do not like sci-fi films and stay away from such movies as soon as time loop or time travel is mentioned.

I would implore you not to. I mean yes the premise seems ridiculous, even though mathematically/theoretically possible in ways, but the characters never do.

The characters of Nyles and Sarah are as relatable as characters get. In different ways too as they go through different phases of being stuck in a time-loop.

Nyles has been there long enough to be in the acceptance stage but Sarah goes through all of them. Nyles then tries to explain his experience to her in an effort to make the transition easier.

As either Sarah experiences it or Nykles relives it, every viewer could find something in one stage or the other that they would do or could relate to.

This is where “Palm Springs” excels. Especially right now.

It is going to be said a lot around this film but it is hard not to with the state of 2020.

Repetition is the watchword for 2020 and we can all relate to these characters more because of it.

Now we are not stuck in a loop but it does seem like it. Everyday is nearly the same whether you’re experiencing it or in your home watching it.

The pandemic-fueled year of 2020 has been about repetition, so far.

This is just another way to empathize with our main characters and it would be hard to prove but I imagine if 2020 was not like it is “Palm Springs” might not have done as well as it has.

At least in the record breaking area, at the end of the day it is still a great film and would be watched on some level but these types of movies don’t often have this type of success.

Naturally, this will get compared to Bill Murray’s “Groundhog Day.”

I, for one, believe “Palm Springs” is better. Although it probably will never be remembered that way in the end.

The reason I say better is because “Groundhog Day” never truly asks the hard questions of itself. The film is always a comedy first.

When Bill Murray’s character goes through the inevitable suicidal phase of the time loop, Murray’s character’s deaths are never dark like suicde is.

The film treats them as comedic fodder.

While “Palm Springs” does this as well, Nyles is always talking and philosophizing what it means as Sarah goes through it.

“Palm Springs” digs deeper into what repetition can do to the human spirit and hints at how to overcome it. How to make repetition feel less repetitive.

This is the brilliance in the writing of Andy Siara who wrote the film.

When Sarah’s character growth includes reconciliation in the way it does. How can you say anything but brilliant writing.

Sarah has to deal with the worst mistake of her life and past mistakes. All while learning to put them to bed and move forward as a wiser, self-actualized person.

This is deeper than “Groundhog Day” got. To be fair, it was there in “Groundhog Day” but it never actually said it.

The viewer had to think of it themselves and think of it themselves.

Although many enjoy this part of films and the movie industry, where fans can make up their own ideas and conspiracies on films, I am not one of them.

I prefer a film to say what it wants and what it means out loud.

I prefer other people’s experience. That is what I want to hear. If I want to hear my own thoughts or words I will write it myself in my own words.

This is the brilliance of “Palm Springs.” It is two peoples’ experience with an event and ultimately with each other, all in their own words.

The film explains its thoughts and feelings towards its situation and its characters to the audience and you do not always get that from a movie.

However, for those that like contemplating and finding meaning or conspiracies on their own “Palm Springs” has that as well.

Yes, I mean the dinosaurs and the ending leave it open for people to theorize. So the viewer gets the best of both worlds from “Palm Springs.”

In the end “Palm Springs” brings meaning to repetition.

This is an accomplishment of epic proportions in 2020. I imagine there are few right now who see meaning in the repetition of daily life in 2020.

“Palm Springs” is a wacky comedy filled with hilarious adventures and it does it all with heart and fervor.

Hulu paid 17.5 million for the film after “Palm Springs” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

“Palm Springs” is the festival’s biggest deal to date and it was well worth the price tag.

“Palm Springs” is undoubtedly one of the best films this year.

IRATE SCORE: 4.5/5

Jason Guyer is an avid moviegoer and works in the graphics department at the Eagle Times. For questions or comments he can be emailed at [email protected].

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