Release Date:  July 10, 2020

MSRB Rating: R

Director: Max Barbakow

Starring:  Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Becky Sloviter, Jorma Taccone, Dylan Sellers, Chris Parker

Our Grade: A

In “Palm Springs”, Nyles, played by Andy Samberg, is stuck in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again due to a cave with an eerie red glow. Every day, he goes to the same wedding and meets the same people. This time, he talks to Sarah, the maid of honor at the wedding. When Nyles goes into the cave to restart his day, Sarah follows him and is sucked into the time loop as well. While Sarah spends her time trying to find ways out of the loop, Nyles has accepted his life and would rather relax and not stress about it. During this, a romance develops between them both. The highs and lows of the relationship that follows are very realistic. The story goes from very immature humor, to talking about quantum physics, which was slightly jarring at first, but turns out to be fitting considering the confusing nature of a time loop.

This Hulu original movie is not your typical romance; it is far closer to a comedy. For one, there is not a lot of romance, but there are many adult themes that are highlighted within the 90 minute run time. The movie is also not as cheesy as many romantic comedies tend to be. There are no over the top romantic gestures or cliché phrases, but the romance in this movie feels far more genuine than most in the genre. The plot is far more nuanced as well, with characters having realistic, fluid emotions. All of these factors add up to a movie that is simply fun to watch.

The movie is filmed in a very similar style to many other romantic comedies, without many interesting shots. That is to say that the movie depicts the time loop very well, as repetition is used in some shots that show that it is the same day, adding some interest to the cinematography. The music as well is nothing to write home about, without many recognizable melodies or songs. However, the plot of the movie and the acting makes the cinematography and mildly interesting soundtrack worthwhile.

“The movie is essentially Groundhog Day for adults,” sophomore Edglhys Lopez said.

“Palm Springs” is simply a fun movie to watch. Despite its mundane cinematography and sound, its story makes up for it ten fold, with very realistic characters and emotions. The movie, which is much more of a comedy than a romantic movie, provides a lot of enjoyment and many laughs throughout.