'On the Rocks' Review
R: Language and sexual references
Runtime: 1 Hr and 36 Minutes
Production Companies: A24, American Zoetrope
Distributor: Apple TV+
Director: Sofia Coppola
Writer: Sofia Coppola
Cast: Bill Murray, Rashida Jones, Marlon Wayans
Release Date: October 2, 2020/ October 23, 2020 (on Apple TV+)
Set in a world of privilege and sophistication, Laura (Rashida Jones) thinks she’s happily married with two daughters, but when her husband Dean (Marlon Wayans) starts logging late hours at the office with a new co-worker, Laura begins to fear the worst. She turns to the one man she suspects may have insight: her charming and impulsive father Felix (Bill Murray), who insists they investigate the situation. As the two begin prowling New York at night, careening from uptown parties to downtown hotspots, they discover that at the heart of their journey lies their own relationship.
Sofia Coppola has given audiences a variety of stories ranging from deep human dramedies to historical period pieces and even a Bill Murray Christmas special. Oh yes, that exists and she helmed that project. Now, one of the most beloved female filmmakers in the business is back with a much lighter drama that is still as human as some of her previous efforts.
At first glance, the premise feels similar to every other formulaic drama centered around a partner suspecting extramarital affairs, but Coppola's approach is both mature and human, making most of the characters as relatable as possible. As you glimpse into Laura’s daily routine, it’s clear that her life is banal. She is a middle-class Manhattan-based mother of two daughters with a husband who works in a successful business but has to travel all the time. She also has to deal with self-centered neighborhood moms, only to go home and struggle with writer’s block, which prevents her from writing her latest novel. Hell, you know how humdrum her life is due to the chaotic yet engaging score provided by Phoenix. She considers herself boring, and she is, which is definitely the intention. So, it’s not much of a stretch for her to believe that her husband is cheating on her.
Coppola does a great job humanizing her characters despite the privileged lives they lead. I love how accurate her depiction of this modern mom is, for Laura and her family live in a studio apartment, she travels with a Strand bag, and most of the locations are distinctly in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It feels authentic to the New York lifestyle, especially when Laura and her dad Felix go on adventures throughout Manhattan. God, On the Rocks makes me miss NYC nightlife so damn bad. While the story may seem like a narrative about a troubled marriage, it’s really a slice-of-life portrait that mostly focuses on Laura’s relationship with her playboy father, Felix.
Felix is presented as if Bill Murray was playing a fictionalized version of himself. Much like Murray, Felix is a charming larger-than-life figure. As he hangs out with his daughter and tries to reconnect with her, you become so fascinated by his character. There’s a car chase sequence that results in him getting pulled over by the police and he’s able to charm the officer simply because he knows his family. He exudes major boomer energy as he openly hits on any woman in view regardless of age and most of his dialogue relates to men’s attraction to women. Unsurprisingly, Murray’s performance is naturally charming and funny. However, you can feel the tension of unspoken emotional baggage and resentment that Laura has held on to that’s waiting to be aired as the film progresses. That’s the meat of the story and it’s performed with maturity from both parties.
While the central focus of the film is the father-daughter relationship more so than Laura’s marital issues, the latter doesn’t provide much emotional impact. Her husband Dean (Marlon Wayans) is barely in the film and you hardly receive a sliver of his personality. The issue isn’t entirely convincing because Dean spends all of his screentime showing how much he loves his family. It would’ve been nice to see more of Wayans in the film (holy shit what the fuck am I saying?!) instead of doing the bare minimum to make him look sus as hell.
As aforementioned, the film revolves around upper-class privileged people and, much like most of Coppola’s previous features, it’s a first-world problem drama that’s been done many times before. While On the Rocks is entertaining, it’s not nuanced and never rises above the surface-level depiction of life itself.
It’s weird to see Marlon Wayans in a Coppola movie, delivering a charming performance with the little screentime he’s granted. I haven’t fully processed it considering all the hell he’s put me through in the 2010s, but good on him for starring in a mature dramatic project. I truly hope he continues taking roles where he can show his capabilities as a dramatic actor and not the garbage bottom-of-the-barrel offensive comedies that he has been doing for the past 15 years. Please, Marlon. Please do more good stuff like this. PLEASE, I’M BEGGING YOU!
