The Intervention

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04/25/2021 Exaggerated, unrealistic prompt that still united familiar assembly with a likable cast remarking comedically and working chemistries that never let the engagement down on the complex characterization. (B) See more 06/22/2020 This movie is a delight! I rewatch it every year! It’s sweet, and funny, and feels real. Melanie Lynskey and Colbie Smulders, are stands out. Good writing from Clea DuVall! See more 05/31/2020 Another thoroughly enjoyable movie in SBS's best movies line up. I loved the cast and the premise and the Southern background. See more 08/15/2019 You look up a review of this film, the words 'Big' and 'Chill' will inevitably appear, and not for no reason: the inspiration is clearly there, although nowhere near as boldly as a film like 2014's About Alex, a film with a premise so similar that it was almost a remake of Kasdan's 1983 'post-coming of age' drama. Rather, The Intervention strives to do something not attempted by The Big Chill, nor About Alex, nor even Secaucus 7 or even more niche films in a similar vein such as Indian Summer or Linklater's SubUrbia: it doesn't put on airs, but rather retains an unexpected lightheartedness, and while there is conflict afoot (such as the aforementioned intervention), there is a vested interest in portraying these characters as friends who may be burdened by many things, but estrangement is not one of them. Attempting not to venture too far into spoiler territory, there is a scene where one of the leads finds herself in a compromising position involving what could only generously be called a kiss, and misunderstandings ensue. Whereas this is where the plot and tone would take a hard right into contentious territory were this another film, instead this is when we're treated to the movie's most outwardly comedic scene involving an angry 'kiss-off' after taking a dive off of the pier. This kind of levity may not be for everyone, but for those who may be put off by movies that attempt to lean more on the heavy side of gravitas, this may be just the film for you. There is an underlying conflict bubbling just below the surface (and in a rather pleasant example of a twist not beating you over the head, I'll just say that by the end of the movie it's not the conflict you've been led to believe it will be), these are characters who care for each other with no attachments of cultural disillusionment or adages about how age has surrendered them of their innocence - just pure, simple, awkward concern. In a movie about six friends trying to stage an intrusive 'marriage intervention' for two of their best friends, The Intervention doesn't feel too concerned as a cautionary tale about needing to take time to caution you: instead, what you see is what you get, and what you get is a straightforward story about a bunch of well-meaning people sticking their nose where it doesn't belong, and watching some good, some bad, and some necessary character revelations come out of it. Also worthy of mention is writer/director/star Clea DuVall's screenplay: a respectable introductory effort to the other side of the screen, the script does a good job at developing only the necessary character traits and working from there, often starting simple threads that eventually lead to small, intimate character details that unfold as the film's conflict is brought to a head. Within the film's first minute, engaged couple Annie and Matt (played by real-life couple Melanie Lynskey and Jason Ritter) are flying in to town, and as Matt is asleep, a flight attendant asks if Annie would like anything to drink. She asks for an orange juice, takes a beat, checks to see if Matt is asleep, and then asks instead for a double scotch on the rocks. It's the simplest of plot devices that alludes to Annie's drinking problem, but it works, and it works with efficiency: in fact, if you weren't informed of anything about this film beyond the title, within the span of this one scene, you'd likely be convinced that Annie was going to be the one the intervention was going to be planned for, not the one planning it. Similarly, the intervention's resident holdout, Jack (played by the surprisingly capable Ben Schwartz, who I'm personally used to seeing in more straight comedic roles), is alluded to have something of a tragic past, but indications of this are made slowly and quietly, starting with DuVall's character Jessie softly wondering if anyone 'knows how he's been doing', and small asides about whether or not his friends had stopped to think how his being back at Jessie and Ruby's summer home would affect him. When girlfriends Jessie and Sarah (Natasha Lyonne) are having separate conversations, each are taking a long drag of a cigarette. While Sarah tells Ruby (Cobie Smulders) not to tell Jessie she's been smoking because they were supposed to be quitting together, Annie inquires to Jessie when she started smoking again. "I didn't," Jessie replies obliviously as she takes a puff, speaking earnestly to the obliviousness of the characters to even their own most simple shortcomings. Unlike other 'Chill-likes' (I'm thinking this isn't really a thing, but I'm going to use it for brevity's sake), there's no introductory setup to each character's occupations and personal hangups. In fact, no mention is made whatsoever as to what these friends do for a living, or whether or not their not being to the summer house in so long (six years) has caused any appreciable rift between them. This, in my opinion, is a refreshing change of pace that makes The Intervention markedly just different enough to earn it a place separate and distinct from the 'Big Chill for millennials' title that it's been fitted with. Is it simple? Yes. Traditional? You bet. Is it awash with underlying themes and deconstructions? Nope. Does it challenge the viewer's preconceived generational notions? Not really. Does it need to? Not at all: in fact, I feel as though it could only have suffered for trying to translate the pretensions of the film's 1983 predecessor. It's a likable cast treading familiar waters, but it's better off for it. See more 10/07/2018 Great female ensemble. See more nilufer e @Nilicim 09/07/2018 I really loved this movie not just because of the cute cast (men could've been picked better) but also the way it handles four different kind of romantic relationships in an accurate and delicate way. Good dose of humor too. See more Read all reviews

The Intervention

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