Feature

5 Reasons Why ‘Palm Springs’ Succeeds as a Time Loop Movie

How to tell an overused story in an entertaining way.

Hulu’s Palm Springs appeared on my radar a few days before it became available to stream on 10 July 2020. Either its marketing campaign was poor, or I don’t follow entertainment news as closely as I used to! Nevertheless, as a Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Lonely Island fan, I knew I had to see it.

But if you still know nothing about it, here are five reasons why Palm Springs is worth a watch in this bleak summer season…

1. Everybody loves a good time loop movie!

Since Bill Murray re-lived the same day over and over in Groundhog Day, the idea of a time loop narrative became anything but original. However, there are endless possibilities with such a premise if done right. Palm Springs approaches its familiar idea through a comedic lens, which is half the success. It’s the genre’s charm to employ all the fun aspects that could come up in this typical scenario.

The time loop happens to be at a wedding, and we all know weddings tend to go pretty wildly in romantic comedies. Imagine if you had infinite opportunities to crash someone’s nuptials. Our protagonist, Nyles (Andy Samberg), does so over and over again… but it becomes depressing to get drunk and crash the same party all by yourself.

But that’s when Sarah (Cristin Milioti) enters the scene. She accidentally traps herself inside the same time loop and decides with Nyles to have fun and make use of every situation presented by their circumstances and surroundings — including freak-outs, drinking, getting high, and (of course) accidental and purposeful deaths.

2. Andy Samberg. Duh?

This is a film with comedian Andy Samberg in the lead, which reveals how serious it’s going to be. I’m aware of this reason could be counterproductive. If you can’t stand Samberg, there’s a strong chance you won’t enjoy this comedy. But let’s be honest here, you wouldn’t be reading this article in the first place if you truly disliked him.

Andy’s a funny guy and not an especially good actor, but he knows that well enough. He fits into that one-sided character he always plays in every film or TV show he’s cast in. But guess what? In Palm Springs, he manages to give some depth and maturity to his character. It’s a good job from an actor I thought incapable of playing multifaceted roles.

3. Unusual but welcome maturity.

Given the plot and the cast, this isn’t a film I’d expect to inspire thought-provoking conversations about relationships, maturity, and poor decision-making. However, Andy Siara’s screenplay is surprisingly mature and wise at times, without trying too hard to lecture the audience. Siara writes seemingly casual dialogue that spirals into conversations, making our heroes feel vulnerable and self-reflective. It’s nothing substantial but his script helps to broaden the film’s horizon.

4. Great music selection.

There’s a reason for using classic songs from the 1970s and 1980s, but their impact is often blunted because we keep hearing them in too many romantic comedies nowadays. Occasionally, it feels refreshing to hear the less-known tracks from legendary musicians like Daryll and Oates, Leonard Cohen, or Genesis. The music selection in Palm Springs serves the mood and atmosphere nicely, ensuring there’s always a feel-good charm to it.

5. How to nail a pleasant ending?

Collider asked Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island gang about how they came up with such a satisfying climax. Samberg said it wasn’t easy to pull it off without falling into various traps of the rom-com genre. The reason I loved the ending isn’t solely because it was logically acceptable, but how it reminded me of how scared it can be to leave one’s comfort zone.

Even when trapped in a depressing time loop making our lives more tedious by the day, we still cling to what we know because we’re afraid to face the unknown. That’s true even when the unknown could lead to a better future and end our misery forever. And especially when it comes to love and feelings, we’re scared to think about a scenario without the person we adore, even if that relationship is broken and toxic.

The ending is a lovely metaphor that reflects on life.

Perhaps I went too deep mentioning an existential crisis, but my point is Palm Springs is more than just another time loop story. Its revelations are subtle and smart. It may not be a truly brilliant film, but it’s an interesting take on the subject matter, especially in a summer that’s become a grim reality without any bombastic blockbusters to distract us.

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