by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
When you watch so many films, you really start to notice the trends happening in the world of film. Have you ever noticed these types of things? Over the past few years, there have been a few films centered on young woman struggling to get the birth control they need in the American heartland. Probably the most relevant example would have been HBO Max’s Unpregnant, which was a road trip with two young women trying to find a place for an abortion. But in the glorious vein of Armageddon/Deep Impact and The Prestige/The Illusionist, we get Unpregnant/Plan B. Sub out the abortion for the Plan B pill and we have sister road trip flicks. But that is not the only trend that has brought Plan B to existence. Certain actors have been making that shift into the director’s chair through coming-of-age tales. Case in point, we have Olivia Wilde who delivered so well with Booksmart and now Natalie Morales takes the reins with this new Hulu film.
But now that we have a better idea of why this film has come about… does Plan B deliver a worthwhile experience on Hulu?
Morales certainly flexes with a great deal of earnestness and relatability. Plan B, in many ways, feels like a film that really captures the interactions with young people in high school. Morales makes the choice to spend plenty of time with our dynamic duo at the center of the film, Sunny (Kuhoo Verma) and Lupe (Victoria Moroles). They have plenty of chemistry together and the film feels like it is popping when they are both on screen. The energy created by our leads and their director gives the film a brisk pace, which the film benefits from as a whole. One particular issue of the film is the tone. Similar to Unpregnant, Plan B is tackling some significant themes about body autonomy, but at times it veers so harshly into over-the-top comedy that it feels like it undermines the significance. One particular scene in this film is so bad… I almost changed my whole perspective on the quality of the film as a whole. There were a few other scenes that lean too far into absurdity, but luckily the rest of the film delivers plenty of emotion and laughs that I was able to get past it.
Speaking about certain scenes in the film, how does the story hold up?
The script is injected with important themes that sit naturally well in coming-of-age tales. Does that mean that the film is not particularly unique? You can definitely make that argument, but the ideas that are engaged with are so earnest that those themes standout. Sunny is a straight-laced young woman who is under the thumb of her mother. Should she be able to act out and not be perfect? I have certainly felt that very same pressure in my own life. That particular story really speaks to me. The more obvious theme is the one that focuses on access to birth control, as the film highlights some legislation that conflicts in many heartland states like South Dakota. Then you have Lupe’s story, which is luckily becoming more of a common story to tell. This lends itself to some genuinely heartwarming interactions between Sunny and Lupe later on in the film. From a story structure perspective, the first act is put together well and flows well with great comedy writing and character work. Once we hit the road, the exploits become a little more hit or miss. Those that stay subtle and dialogue focused in the humor work better (as pointed out with those terrible sequences mentioned earlier which focused on unfunny gags). Likely, the film really sticks the landing with a meaningful and poignant finale that pulls things together nicely.
For all of the screen time that we spend with our leads, do the actors (along with their supporting crew) help elevate the film?
The two leads really carry the film with great energy and charisma. Kuhoo Verma plays with great insecurity but also a unique confidence. She is smart and talented with a certain level of comfort in her abilities, but she perseverates over his lack of sexual exploits Verma plays everything off so well. Victoria Moroles pours out a sense of cool in every scene, but what is most impressive is what Moroles’ carries underneath. There is a mystery about the character of Lupe and Moroles delivers on that in spades. The rest of the cast is solid with a few exceptions that are just too over the top (but that could honestly be the material). In the end, this film just might be star-making for the combo of Kuhoo and Verma.
But now with all the talk being done, is Plan B worth checking out on Hulu right now?
As a whole, this is an endearing flick with a purpose. There are more laughs proportionally compared to the cringeworthy sequences. Those scenes might be really hard to get through (which certainly brings the second act down), but if you can get past them, the rest of the film is something special. Originality might not be the call card of the film but charm and charisma certainly are. Give Plan B a chance, you just might find yourself surprised!
Grade: B-