If only a movie could be judged by its good intentions – its important subject matter and noble cause – then Alice, Darling would be very easy to review and praise. Alas, it is a movie and must be evaluated as such. I know that makes me sound like a jerk, but nobody roots for movies to succeed more than I.
Alice (Anna Kendrick) seems to be perfectly together. Smart, happy, super handsome boyfriend Simon (Charlie Carrick). But just like the people you know on social media, the more frequent the uplifting and inspirational posting of memes, the more you realize they are trying to cheer up themselves, not their 600 friends.
In other words, things are not what they seem with Alice. Inside, she is basically a neurotic wreck, and we gradually see that the reason is that her man has turned her into a fearful, self-doubting, self-injuring woman trapped in a nightmare. The film will be about whether she can turn the tables.
Alice joins her besties for a girl’s weekend retreat, but it doesn’t calm he nerves to be away from her emotionally abusive partner. It almost exacerbates the problem.
What will he do? Can she hide away from him, if only for a long weekend? Will this get physical? Will her friends understand her plight, or simply tell her to leave the charmingly evil man and start her life anew?
All good questions and Director Mary Nighy raises the tension in a masterful way. Kendrick is perfectly cast. Why? Because we want good things for her. We want to help – if only by leaning in to the screen a bit more.
As Nighy ratchets up the stakes, winding the watch, winding some more, and winding some more the tension is palpable. We brace ourselves for a huge release – when the spring is sprung, we think, it’s gonna be something.
And then…pffft. It’s like barely audible air leaking from a flat tire. It’s a final act that doesn’t give the audience the one thing it has really earned: catharsis. I will not spoil whether it’s a “happy” ending or not. I’m just saying it couldn’t have been more anti-climactic.
Alice, Darling | Rated R | 1 h. 30 min. | 2 out of 4 Stars | In Theaters
