The Trouble with Jessica

Saw this at the Curzon in Knutsford and found the first 15 minutes rather dull and pointless. Lots of swearing and flirting at a middle class dinner party in a London suburb. Yawn.

But then BOOM!! Huge twist suddenly comes out of nowhere and the film takes on a completely different feeling.

Now we see the four main characters dealing with a desperate situation that can only be resolved one way. This is when the giggles come thick and first. I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud so often in a cinema. This film really tickled my funny bone. Not just through good old slapstick but by backing each character into a corner to see what lengths they will go to.

Layers are peeled off to reveal the vulnerabilities and hidden truths with an outstanding script. A nosy neighbour and some bumbling cops are also thrown in to further increase the comedic tension.

The only reason I couldn't give it a ten was the odd soundtrack that was a bit distracting and the rather wooden performance of Alan Tudyk.

Other than that, the best comedy I've seen in years.

The cast were fabulous, I found Rufus Sewell particularly funny and although moments of the story seemed bonkers, it somehow became plausible. I laughed throughout and enjoyed the nuance of dialogue between friends and partners. I enjoyed the unraveling of what starts out as a perfectly normal setting into unexpected chaos, disappointment, jealously, entitlement and self satisfaction, always fabulous themes of the human condition to which this film delivers. Each scene is crafted in a such a way that I became the voyeur, relishing the discomfort of the characters, and pending predicament! Wondering if judgement would prevail. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and highly recommend.

I am not sure this works as well or funny as I intended this to be or it sounded in my head. That said, I am going to stick with it and tell anyone who wants to hear it: no pun intended. When I started watching this, I did think this was another remake of the perfect dinner (or whatever the movie is called - quite a few countries have remade the premise) ... but it turns out that this is a different beast.

Still a lot of people sitting around the table and talking ... but the inciting incident is quite ... well it won't let you just hang in there, that is for sure (sorry, but I had to) ... this will either get you! The tension, the script and the actors ... all together are able to do a great movie. Yes some character decisions are weak ... but hey a bit of suspension of disbelief never hurt nobody (yes I know what I did - I can has some fun too from time to time - yes?) ... this was way better than I thought, especially because of some of the twists ... and the script/acting, well you know the drill (sort of)

The trouble with Jessica is hilarious and dark, charming yet tragic- a farcical comedy brimming with social observations and emotional twists and turns. The cast is terrific at delivering witty and ruthless dialogue whilst playing self absorbed monied liberals -making watching them sweat and squirm all the more enjoyable. There are poignant and witty observations about relationships and the hypocrisy of the wealthy. The jazz score elevates the slap stick elements and ramps up the panic, anxiety and the high tension. It has a lightness of touch within a deeply dark subject matter. It was 90 minutes of devilish deliciousness!

Put wealthy, middle aged friends with a past, plus a current financial problem, in a dinner party in Hampstead one evening and bring an unexpected guest who causes havoc. This film is funny, keeps you on the edge of your seat to see what happens next and the performances from seven of the key cast are wonderful - including Shirley Henderson, Rufus Sewell. Olivia Williams, Alan Tudyk (though he looks a bit orange throughout), Indira Varma, Anne Reid and Groth, the house buyer. The two policemen are fun too in almost Dogberry and Verges roles.

However, it feels a little like it should be (or was originally) a play. The action happens almost entirely in one (very large) kitchen and the ground floor of a house filled with fabulous art.

There is quite a lot of swearing but to me it seemed appropriate to our protagonists, given who they are and the situation they find themselves in. No spoilers!

This was a really fun evening's viewing - interesting predicament, some farce, some irony, lots of laughs, some soul searching and great perfomances - and I make a great clafoutis too!

Of course they would never have got away with it - DNA all over everything and wrong ligature - but I don't really care. Suspend disbelief and enjoy.