ReelBob: ‘On the Rocks’ ★★★½
By Bob Bloom
The key to Sofia Coppola’s “On the Rocks” occurs before any action on the screen. We hear the voice of Bill Murray’s Felix telling his daughters, “And remember, don’t give your heart to any boys. You are mine until you get married, and then you’re still mine.”
On the surface, “On the Rocks” is a trifle of a comedy about the insecurities of permanence in marriage.
Laura (Rashida Jones) and Dean (Marlon Wayans) are professionals; he runs a growing software company and she is a writer.
Dean has been taking many business trips and Laura, especially after meeting some of Dean’s beautiful co-workers, begins to worry if his travels are also for pleasure.
Laura’s anxieties heighten as she realizes that a couple of Dean’s women employees act very uncomfortable around her.
Laura, with two young daughters to take care of and dealing with writer’s block, feels vulnerable.
Her suspicions slowly begin to grow after confiding some of her fears to friends and family members.
Laura’s misgivings escalate after talking to her father, Felix. He a womanizing charmer who left his wife and daughters and has been chasing women ever since.
Murray’s Felix is the force that keeps “On the Rocks” afloat. He bull-rushes Laura’s life. With his worldwide connections — he was a noted art dealer — he tries to help his daughter by having his contacts check up on Dean’s movements.
And it doesn’t help that Felix has a low opinion of his own gender. He basically gives Laura a historical overview of men and women relationships; basically, every man is a hornball like himself.
Yet, you can’t dislike Felix. Murray brings an open honesty and sensitivity to the role. Felix may be pushy and somewhat inarticulate about expressing his feelings, but he truly loves his daughter.
Felix convinces Laura to join him in surreptitiously following Dean. What they find merely increases Laura’s suspicions. And she begins to believe some of Felix’s conspiracy theories about Dean cheating on her.
The plot of “On the Rocks” is simply the peg on which Coppola can explore the nuances of a marital relationship. Laura, who is closing in on 40, feels there’s a malaise in her marriage.
She feels that their spark is dying, perhaps because of her and Dean’s busy lives, her age and that she is busy with their two young girls.
Felix tries to assuage her in his own clumsy way, reminding her that a woman is most desirable between the ages of 35 and 39. In that case, Laura ruefully reminds him, she only has a few months of desirable remaining.
Things come to a head when Felix convinces Laura to come with him to Mexico to check on Dean during his latest business trip.
The outcome of this venture is surprising.
“On the Rocks” is an enjoyable movie that you can savor like a tasty glass of wine.
It doesn’t break any new ground, but it has a straightforward appeal that makes you realize that no matter how much you may love someone — and vice versa — a marriage is an ongoing project in which the lines of communication must always remain open and doubts can upend even the most loving and stable of couples.
I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.
ON THE ROCKS
3½ stars out of 4
(R), language