Self Reliance

It's a cool movie if you don't have anything else to watch. I liked it. It's sort of funny, and it makes you a bit anxious. The game could've been a bit more challenging though.

(***MINOR SPOILER***)

The movie could have been more of a thriller if the game was challenging and Tommy's life was constantly in danger. If paying a homeless guy to be with you all the time saves you from being killed, I don't see the thrill of it.

I read a comment saying it's not as funny, and I have to agree. You'll see people acting goofy every now and then and a bit of humor in some scenes, but just as it could be more thrilling, it could also be more comedic.

I had some trepidations about this movie, but the premise of this quirky story made me curious AND I like the actor Jake Johnson, so my hopes were high, BUT...

The bad: the story ended up being completely silly and void of ANY originality. Just lame. Not credible. Let alone be anything near suspenseful or mysterious.

Well perhaps the acting was any good? NOPE. The jokes? NOPE. Let me think if there is anything left that might be positive to say. I am sorry, I am lost for words...

I love Jake Johnson as the actor, but he directed (debut) AND wrote AND produced this movie, while he had no earlier experience in directing at all and he basically made a uneventful tedious flop.

Self Reliance is a fun debut directing gig from Jake Johnson. Johnson takes an interesting premise and brings some good moments to it although not quite sticking the landing.

The movie could have went in a more intriguing direction by giving it more of a horror vibe when the attacks happen. You never get the sense Johnson is in any real danger.

The real heart of the movie is between Johnson and Anna Kendrick who's easy chemistry together makes the movie. The stuff featuring Kendrick are the movies standout scenes.

There are some nice cameos from Andy Samberg & Christopher Lloyd. Ultimately it is Jake Johnson's charm that carries the movie but this still feels like a missed opportunity. Recommendable.

Imagine you're alone and a chance is then presented, to make a million bucks just for 30 days tormented, there's a caveat or two, on occasion you'll be blue, quite often feel frustrated, and abandoned, discontented. On your journey you'll encounter those who may become your friends, as well as those quite keen to bring existence to an end, there'll be those living in shadows, impersonators in costumed clothes, but as the film continues, you will question, what's been penned. As like me you may sit static without laughing or a smirk, as the humour is quite lacking and poor Tommy is a berk, although you may feel sympathetic, to his plight that's quite prophetic, alas the value it delivers, is most likely to just irk.

2.5 out of 5 stars.

Self-Reliance is a pretty bad comedy thriller film that has a promising concept about a guy getting picked for a reality dark web show. Where he has to survive 30 days from the hunters to win money. And a flaw that the hunters cant attack when they are nearby people.

Plot was okay. Jake Johnson did good and was funny with the role. The humor and script does not last throughout the film. Humor can barely last so long in the film which falls flat by the time it reaches the third act. The direction and script falls tedious in the end. Anna Kendrick was also okay for a small portion of the film. Which the movie fails to let us know what happens to her in the end.

Overall, it is a comedy film that has a few laughs while falling flat in the end.