Save yourselves! (2020) Review
Save Yourselves! is a highly entertaining film that takes a satirical look on modern relationships and our cultural obsession with technology — all within the backdrop of a zany sci-fi adventure. For a majority of the film, up until the final act I would even say, is some of the most fun I've had watching a new 2020 title; a comedic breath of fresh air that, at its best, reminded me of Edgar Wright's Cornetto trilogy. And at its worst — like every other ambitious indie title that just can't manage to live up to its full potential. Sunita Mani and John Paul Reynolds carry the film and add that layer to these characters that they really needed in order for the audience to connect and empathize with them. Like all great satire, their characters are a perfect exaggeration of our society; in this case — poking fun at a generation consumed by social media and the desire to constantly feel connected. From the humility to the comedic spasms and outbursts — the writing coupled with these actors is a match made in heaven. And Mani and Reynolds, in fact, have the chemistry to match.
What I love the most about this film is Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson’s unrelenting drive to make these characters so vulnerable. Though it is a sci-fi comedy – there’s moments when it feels like much more and actually delivers on the message about isolating ourselves from the material world and finding some sort of solace through that. There are many moments before the climax itself that cements these “thoughts” in a much stronger manner and I wish the film would have explored this a bit more; it would have felt stronger. Because of this – the character writing and humor end up being the strongest part of the narrative and there really wasn’t a moment where I wasn’t having a good time.
It’s also hilarious that the downfall of mankind happens to be from these mysterious little cute creatures that require no explanation whatsoever; you’re along for the ride and these adorable fluff-balls are deadly as all hell. This isn’t a film that warrants any great action sequences but it manages to deliver the hilarity alone through these characters getting into situations I really wasn’t expecting. If I’m being honest, I could watch an entire show where Mani and Reynolds bicker non-stop in a comedic adult coming of age story so if someone could make that happen…that would just be swell.
The final sequence is where this film starts to trip on its own feet. For a movie that seems to be heavily working in service of its theme the entire time — having an "ambiguous" ending like this one somewhat feels like a cop-out. At least for me. I wish the film ended on something more concrete and expanded the "technology bad" ideology. As a comedic sci-fi indie romp, this movie excels above and beyond. But as a film that's attempting to preach a message to its audience — it could definitely use some more refinement.
By the end, Save Yourselves! is a rom-com infused with the perfect amount of science fiction and comedy, thanks to the actors and writing, to warrant a delightful watch. Quite honestly, it’s the perfect quarantine movie to watch with your significant other and it mirrors our own inadequacies as a technology obsessed generation in a comedic, yet vulnerable, fashion.
This really is one of my favorites of the year.
