Self Reliance

By: Kemberlie Spivey

Taking the initiative in your life, career or relationships is not always easy. Self Reliance highlights the challenges in your life and not deflecting from your problems that you may face. Every second you are trying to connect the dots to the game and what happens towards the end. This film definitely shows the progress of getting over a breakup and learning to move on from the heartbreak. Self Reliance is a fun journey that brings you back to the important things in life. 

Tommy (Jake Johnson) is recovering from a heartbreak when he finds out his ex-girlfriend Theresa (Natalie Morales) had a baby. Tommy keeps the same routine every day until Andy Samberg shows up looking for him to play a game. Tommy has a choice…Can he play a game without getting killed? He has to have supervision around him all the time in order to prevent himself from dying so that he can win a million dollars. But when he tells his family about the game, they don’t believe his story and think he needs to grow up. When Tommy realizes that no one takes him seriously, he hires a homeless person named James (Biff Wiff) to look after him. While playing the game Tommy notices a gamer named Maddy (Anna Kendrick) who is in the same boat as him. Together they embark on this journey of trying not to die all the while finding love. 

It’s very interesting that Andy Samberg cameoed as himself and you can see him have fun with it. His scenes were very small but added to the story in every way. I definitely was impressed by Biff Wiff and the comedic relief he would bring with Jake Johnson. They are moments that Tommy leans on James a lot and the two have a lovely bond with each other. The film adds Wayne Brandy who shows up towards the end and I also enjoyed seeing him appear as himself. All of these cameos added depth to the story in a unique way.

Self Reliance has wonderful direction under actor Jake Johnson, making his directorial debut. The locations, the sequences and the bit of details are quality, which Johnson brings to this fun film. There are moments in the movie that really keep the audience interested. Unfortunately, it all works up until the third act when it space out. However, you will be engaged with the movie from beginning to end thanks to the laugh out loud moments. 

Self Reliance is a fun adventure about love, living in the moment and what you are willing to do for a million dollars. It’s a super funny, adventurous and magical time that keeps the audience on their toes. In fact, the movie reminds you that self reliance is a good step in the right direction no matter what happens. If you are looking for a good time and want to have fun with a movie, then Self Reliance is definitely for you.