On the Rocks

On the Rocks
Starring Rashida Jones, Bill Murray, Marlon Wayans, Jenny Slate
Directed by Sofia Coppola

There are famous collaborations that have occurred throughout several movies between certain actors and directors.  Johnny Depp and Tim Burton.  Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese.  The Coen Brothers and Frances McDormand and George Clooney.  Then there's the duo of director Sofia Coppola and Bill Murray, whose previous collaborations included the television special "A Very Murray Christmas" and "Lost in Translation," which won Coppola an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay as well as nominations for Best Picture, Director, and Actor for Murray.  Now the two have teamed up again for "On the Rocks," which has a similar feel to "Lost" in its style and filming, but is much more personal and deals with an issue that faces countless married couples all over the world.

Laura (Rashida Jones) had a very rough childhood, as her father Felix (Bill Murray) pretty much broke up their family with his constant philandering, but now as adults the two have been spending more time together, despite her slight animosity toward him.  Laura's been married to Dean (Marlon Wayans), a successful businessman, for several years and together they have two daughters, and now Laura feels Dean might be cheating on her with a co-worker of his due to his constant leaving on business trips.  Felix believes Laura's fears are real, and the two set out to find proof of Dean's infidelity - but it could all be in Laura's head, due to her natural misgivings of men as a result of Felix's upbringing.

"On the Rocks" is a very small film in the fact that it centers really on just three main characters in the middle of the huge hustle and bustle of New York City, and focuses on a rather simplistic story about the fears of infidelity and lack of confidence, but Coppola manages to transform it into a lavish, beautifully written and directed film that really makes the Big Apple feel more like Italy than anything else.  The places they go to, the people they interact with, and the situations they find themselves in really hearken to a different time and place, and with the nuanced music it really makes you feel more at home and connected with what's going on.

Coppola managed to write a story that is deeply personal and yet internationally felt, as there's hardly a married couple out there who never once felt that their marriage was...on the rocks.  Here, Laura is a successful writer who's gotten writer's block due to her constant fear of Dean's possible cheating ways, as she finds a woman's toiletry bag in his suitcase, he doesn't seem to show her affection, and he's constantly going out on long business trips and leaving her alone to tend to their two children.  You really feel for her in the sense that you don't feel the connection between the two anymore, as even hugs have been replaced with fist bumps, while Dean shows obvious physical affection for other women.  You get inside Laura's headspace as she feels that she's inadequate, not beautiful enough, and not interesting enough anymore - and her father Felix isn't much help.

Felix himself is a womanizing philanderer, who thinks he knows a cheat when he sees one, and agrees with Laura that Dean must be cheating on her.  The two embark on a spy mission to observe Dean's moments and hopefully catch him in the act, all the while Felix waxes philosophical and offers touching - yet also mildly insulting - guidance to Laura throughout.  Yet despite their strained connection, you still feel the connection between the estranged father and daughter, as they grow closer while trying to find out the truth, and it's a very quiet, beautiful thing to witness.

This comes due to the natural chemistry between Rashida Jones and Bill Murray, who are both masters at their craft of weaving drama and comedy effortlessly, like the most exquisite tapestry ever constructed.  Jones has a knack for personal, defecating humor that's strengthened by her monotone voice, while Murray exudes confidence as Felix, who seems to know everyone in New York City and beyond, and who can charm his way out of any situation (such as possibly getting a ticket for obviously speeding).  Together the two of them light up the screen, and you can't help but fall in love with both of them.

The only real flaw is the ending, which comes abruptly and suddenly, and the film itself could've served better if there was an additional thirty minutes at the end to really tie up everything perfectly, but also it kind of shows the reality of the situation: life sometimes doesn't allow you to tie up every loose end and come to a complete conclusion, because unlike movies, life keeps going after you think the credits start rolling.  So in a sense, even the ending is appropriate for the situation, as not everything can be so easily concluded after a short amount of time.

Bringing their A-games to an A-list director, Bill Murray and Rashida Jones offer a unique father/daughter relationship that's equal parts strained and respected, giving "On the Rocks" a deeply personal feel on a very small - but appreciated - scale.

The Score: A