Newspaper Want-Ad reads:  “Wanted – Someone to go back in time with me.  You will get paid when we get back, must bring your own weapons, I have only done this once before, safety not guaranteed.”  I was sold on this when the promos hit in March and am very happy to report that it does not disappoint.  B+

I really hope this film finds an audience.  It needs to, it must, it’s not at all what you see coming or expect.  ‘Safety Not Guaranteed’ is a witty, awkward, funny, and just plain feel good story about a trio of intrepid reporters who follow the aforementioned Want-Ad to its origin.   What they find is a great adventure to watch unfold on screen.  Darius (Aubrey Plaza) is a typical early 20 something girl schlepping thru an internship and assigned to staff writer Jeff (Jake Johnson).  They get the assignment to follow the Ad and determine if the guy is a nut job or actually telling the truth about what he advertises for.  Being a loner, Darius has no issues taking the assignment and leaving town for a few days with another staff intern Arnau (Karan Soni) to join Jeff in tracking down the truth.  Enter Kenneth, the supposed time traveler; he’s odd, a bit eccentric and certainly paranoid but there still seems to be some earnestness to him and his perceived mission.  Darius responds to the ad and after an intriguing and strange initiation, becomes Kenneth’s new partner.

 

In watching the film, like me, I’m sure you’ll be thinking how entertaining it is, but what is it building up to?  Is he telling the truth?, Can this hick from the backwoods really talk and walk of someone who can create a time traveling system?  What you start to realize as the film progresses, you don’t care.  It’s not about whether or not he’s truthful or if there is even a time machine, it becomes more about the relationship formed between Darius and Kenneth.  It’s nicely supplemented by the reunion relationship by Jeff and a long lost high school sweetheart who lives in the same small town, and it adds great family character via Darius’ father Mr. Britt (Jeff Garland).  This is one of those small independents that took a shoestring budget and turned it into move magic.  It captivates, it ensnares your thought process around its potential, and just plain wows you with its’ ending.

 

Take a date and check it out! B+

 

Safety Not Guaranteed is rated R for language including some sexual references.  Running Time, 1 hour and 26 minutes.