by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
How do we cope with sudden and tragic loss in our lives? You might decide to hold a celebration of life so you can remember all the good times. You can spend time with your loved ones and appreciate the love and care you have from those still there with you. But not everyone’s option is the healthiest. Some self-isolate and spiral. Others might turn to substances like drugs to deal with the pain. Jillian Bell’s Vanessa in the new film, I’m Totally Fine, takes the approach of self-isolation. But with a twist! First, she unexpectedly throws a one-person party. But then she has an unexpected visitor, which turns her coping weekend upside down.
What is this visitor? An alien, of course! This science fiction flick mixes its genre elements so well with the dramatic and comedic elements. There are not a ton of big budget effects, but they are subtly used in an effective way to convey what is necessary. The turn is believable, and Natalie Morales excels with this new challenge for her. The concept is interesting as Morales’ character is here to test us humans. No harm and no interferences. But some expected moments arrive as Vanessa connects with this alien entity in the shape of her dead best friend. There are narrative beats we have certainly seen in films about aliens trying to connect with us, but they are done in a fresh and interesting way. The emotion feels poignant as well, despite the elements of the conclusion to the tale making their way around storytelling.
But do the themes rise to the top through the humor and sci-fi elements? The most obvious idea that is handled by this film is grief. Coping. Grieving. Vanessa is struggling, as she is still at the height of loss. We see how the alien entity attempts to push her outside her box where she has fled. We get a firsthand approach to a few ways of conquering this loss. There are important themes of friendship that line the screenplay as well. To what extent are we expected to just be there for each other? How quickly Vanessa jumps to overcome this all, we get a sense of the pressure and challenges facing the characters involved. We see the importance of memories, care, and love for one another.
With such a small cast, do the actors come to play? Bell and Morales both give fantastic performances that deliver in different ways. Bell’s character is grieving, and she brings a caustic approach to human interaction in her interactions. She is genuinely funny as she delivers barbs left and right. This sarcastic presence is a nice contrast to the awkward and bluntly honest presence of the alien now sharing a house with her. Morales is channeling the expected monotone and robotic cadence of an alien in modern media (like Alan Tudyk in Resident Alien). But as the film goes on, some of that approach fades to reveal some genuine emotion, which this alien is feeling for the first time. Bell is the film’s anchor, while Morales gets to shine with this fun and engaging performance. Blake Anderson and Harvey Guillén are both funny performers, and they do what they can with their limited roles and screen time. It is Kyle Newacheck who gets some solid substance to work with as a local who is kind and helps our stranded protagonists in their time of need.
Does this little isolated science fiction film deliver a worthwhile experience? The power of Bell, Morales, and this moving story make it worth the investment. This film only clocks in around 85 minutes, which makes it a much easier experience to digest. There are laughs to be had and emotions to feel, so give this new film some love.
Score: 7/10
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