ON THE ROCKS REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Although I’ve only seen two of her films, I think that Sofia Coppola is one of the most interesting filmmakers working today. With Lost In Translation, she provides viewers with an uplifting and heartwarming film that focuses on the interactions between two strangers in Tokyo. I think that the film represents Coppola’s best film and her original screenplay earned her her first Oscar at the 76th Academy Awards. Lost In Translation also featured impressive performances from Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson as the two strangers who meet at a bar in Tokyo. Both are lonely and seek comfort in one another, which made for a fascinating watch. The only other film of Coppola’s that I’ve seen is The Beguiled, which, while not as good as Lost In Translation, was still an intriguing period drama starring Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning and Colin Farrell. Coppola’s latest film, On The Rocks, sees her reuniting with Murray, however, is it worth watching?

Faced with sudden doubts about her marriage, a young New York mother (Rashida Jones) teams up with her larger-than-life playboy father (Bill Murray) to tail her husband (Marlon Wayans) in a bittersweet comedy by Coppola.

On The Rocks is an amusing and lighthearted feature that benefits from the fun performances delivered by Jones and Murray. The majority of the film focuses on the father and daughter duo as they try to find out if Dean really is cheating on Laura or not. Both Jones and Murray work really well together and make a great pairing. Felix clearly cares about Laura and is immediately suspicious when she mentions Dean’s behaviour to him. On The Rocks is at its best when it’s focusing on the interactions between Laura and Felix. Although the latter is charming, he’s not a perfect individual, however, it’s definitely one of the most interesting characters Murray has portrayed recently. Coppola made the perfect decision in casting Murray as he brings both comedic and dramatic elements to the role. I’ve only seen Jones deliver small supporting roles in films such as The Social Network and Friends With Benefits, however, in On The Rocks, Jones impresses with her lead performance and provides viewers with a character a lot of people can empathise with. When Laura first notices changes in her husband’s behaviour, she becomes suspicious and her insecurities increase after meeting one of Dean’s colleagues, Fiona (Jessica Henwick). I can imagine a lot of people being able to relate to Laura and feeling like their partner isn’t giving them enough attention. 

While I wouldn’t say it’s one of her best films, Coppola has created an enjoyable comedy that is easy to watch. The story is fairly predictable, however, that didn’t prevent me from enjoying the interactions between Laura and Felix. I can imagine that the inspiration for the script came from Coppola’s own relationship with her father, Francis Ford Coppola, who is best known for directing The Godfather. Although it can’t have been easy being related to a legendary director, Coppola has successfully made a name for herself and established herself as one of the most unique filmmakers working today. I’m even more interested in seeing more of her works, including The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antoinette. I can’t imagine fans of Coppola’s being disappointed with what she’s created with On The Rocks.

While there is a lot to like about On The Rocks, it’s not without its flaws. With a runtime of just 96 minutes, the story does feel a bit rushed. I think that it would have benefitted from an extra 20-30 minutes to fully develop the characters and effectively explore the relationship between Laura and Felix. The story is also predictable and the ending is anticlimactic. These are all minor issues though and didn’t prevent me from enjoying On The Rocks as a whole.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of films have either had their release date delayed to 2021 or been released via video on demand without a theatrical release. On The Rocks was released in a few selected cinemas before being released on Apple TV. While it’s not necessarily a film that needs to be watched on the big screen, I really enjoyed watching On The Rocks at my local cinema as I find it easier to focus on the film because, at home, I’m easily distracted. However, I can imagine a lot of people preferring to watch films in the comforts of their own home so those with an Apple device can enjoy On The Rocks at home.

Although it doesn’t represent her at her best, Sofia Coppola’s latest film, On The Rocks, is an enjoyable watch that benefits from the charming performances by Rashida Jones and Bill Murray.

7/10