Palm Springs Review: A Worthwhile Trip

Currently holding the record for biggest sale ever at the Sundance Film Festival, Palm Springs arrives with a significant amount of hype and expectation. But can a a time-travel flick really break new ground?

Fortunately, in this case, the answer is yes.

You’ll see Palm Springs compared to Groundhog Day a lot over the coming weeks and to some extent, that comparison is deserved. Both feature protagonists that are stuck living — and reliving — the same day over and over again and feature a charming duo at the center.

However, the comparisons should start and end there. Palm Springs isn’t preachy in the way that Groundhog Day is and Nyles (Andy Samberg) doesn’t have to undergo the total moral makeover that Phil in Groundhog Day does. More importantly though, Palm Springs is a showcase for both Samberg and Milioti whereas Groundhog Day always feels like a Bill Murray vehicle.

That’s not to say Palm Springs doesn’t pay homage to romantic comedies and other time travel films that have come before it. It has plenty of hallmarks of those, all while employing new twists and giving us one of the best comedy heroines in recent memory (more on that later).

A wedding backdrop? Check. A charming elderly woman? Check, and as a bonus, it’s June Squibb. The requisite terrible “how are you even with this person” girlfriend that so often exists in Rom Com World? Check.

Repetitive scenes that unveil larger truths every time? Check. Family that doesn’t resemble each other at all? Check. (On this last point, I’ll say that the family central to Palm Springs, which includes Camila Mendes, Peter Gallagher, and Cristin Milioti share strong eyebrows and literally no other similar features. It’s hilarious).

The film even has the equivalent of a run-through-the-rain-and-declare-your-love scene, only in this instance, the setting is a desert, and to make it extra sexy, there are grammar jokes. I assure you, it’s more charming and alluring than it sounds.

Palm Springs builds on these tropes but as the film goes on, it becomes clear that both romance and the science of time-travel come second to the film’s greater purpose.

More than anything, it’s a thought exercise in what it means to be human.  How do you learn to really live with yourself? Can you muster the power to save yourself (because no one else is coming to do it for you)? How do you live with the painful memories of how you’ve hurt someone or face the realization that you’ll never get to experience some things again?

When the film begins, Nyles has been stuck in the time loop for an indeterminable amount of time. He’s tested and challenged its limits, taken advantage of its benefits, and finally succumbed to the feeling that each day is pointless (and when your decisions don’t have any impact, who can fault his reasoning?) He’s goofy, glib, and depressed all at once.

Samberg’s performance is pitch perfect and his command of subtlety (something he’s not traditionally known for) is impressive. In fact, his performance comes across even more nuanced upon repeated viewings.

With that said, the movie really belongs to Milioti. Milioti has a long history of elevating every property she appears on (like How I Met Your Mother, Black Mirror, the mostly mediocre Modern Love) and it’s a mystery why she doesn’t have a larger career. Hopefully Palm Springs is the turning point for that.

Because Palm Springs kicks off once Sarah joins Nyles in the time loop, it’s really her journey that we’re on, and the script fortunately gives Milioti a lot of leeway to show Sarah’s varying sides. Sarah starts as a modern-day Daria figure, all darkness, nerves and thinly veiled sadness and by the end, she’s a problem-solving hero (and maybe a quantum physics genius?)

Watching Sarah go from one end of the spectrum to the other is the most satisfying part of the film, as is seeing her combat her feelings of shame and helplessness.

The scenes where Sarah cuts loose by stealing a plane, pranking a problematic groomsman, and performing an elaborate dance at a bar are a delight, and Milioti is clearing having a ball. 

However, the highlight of the film — and really the most thrilling part of Milioti’s performance — comes in the latter half of the film as some of Nyles’ secrets unravel and Sarah realizes she has to take matters into her own hands to break the time loop.

In her anger and shame, she finds resolve, and in a matter of seconds, Milioti’s expressive eyes convey a multitude of changing emotions. The stunning cinematography of this moment only adds to the magic.

Sarah is one of the most complex comedic heroines we’ve seen in some time, getting to be as angry and irreverent as her male counterpart and taking her destiny into her own hands. It’s deeply satisfying to see her follow her gut and fight for the future she wants, and get rewarded with love in the process. Plus, how often does the male character openly identify as codependent? I loved that change of pace.

Palm Springs may appear to be straightforward rom-com time travel romp but it’s far better than its genre might suggest and is worth multiple rewatches (I promise you, you’ll discover new things each time!)

Lingering thoughts:

• J.K. Simmons and Andy Samberg are a delightfully weird comedy team and after the taste we get here, I’d happily watch a buddy comedy with those two.
• If you’re going to have Peter Gallagher in your film, at least give him something more to do than sing a short snippet and call dentists about gluing teeth back together.
• I would have liked to spend more time with sweet Jerry (Tongayi Chrisa); please tell me there are some deleted scenes with him floating around.

What did you think of Palm Springs? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Palm Springs is currently streaming on Hulu. 

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