Sofia Coppola reunites with her Lost in Translation star Bill Murray to navigate a father and daughter relationship.
Sofia Coppola’s latest comes with it a certain degree of expectation, featuring the star who put in one of his best performances in what is arguably Coppola’s best film 17 years ago with Lost in Translation. It is a certain pressure that On The Rocks doesn’t particularly pay much heed to, as it is altogether a much lighter, almost caper-esque movie that strikes a different tone, coming close to being a little too lightweight to have much staying power once the credits begin to roll.
Rashida Jones plays Laura, a writer living in New York, mother to two young kids, happily married to the handsome Dean (Marlon Waynes). The married life is starting to lose its veneer, and while Laura does her best to remain positive, little details begin to stir a suspicion in her that Dean may be having an affair. She ends up seeking comfort in the company of her larger than life playboy father (Murray), who fuels the idea that they should tail her husband across the city to catch him in the act.
On the Rocks is very much Laura’s story, a woman dealing with a crisis in her life, as she is stuck in a rut creatively. As a result, she thinks that rut is seeping into the other areas of her life, going around in circles with the Mom routine, whilst her husband jet sets on business trips. Quite frankly, she’s getting a little bored. As a result, this isn’t really a story of a married woman suspecting her husband, it is more about a woman approaching her 40’s who is struggling with where she’s at, looking for something that might spark a little excitement to shake up her routine.
She has a hell of an enabler in her father, the man who proves to be very much responsible for Laura’s mistrust in the male species. Her father, Felix, is a well travelled, very successful arts dealer who can talk his way out of anything, and he cannot help flirting with women. It is a great role for Murray, and he injects the proceedings with a great deal of life whenever he is on screen. Murray and Jones spar well off each, as Laura questions Felix’s misogynistic worldviews, and Felix tries to keep the drama high, even as it becomes clear that there isn’t actually much to their marital investigation.
Through their tailing of Dean, who frankly seems to lead more of a boring life than Laura was secretly hoping for, Laura is forced to question her own motivation, as well as her father’s. On The Rocks is never quite the film it seems then, and that’s both a complement and a complaint. Despite an empathetic lead performance from Jones, there’s a distinct lack of intrigue around the proceedings. Observations on marital life feel a little cliched and a little out of touch. It is hard to see On The Rocks as a particularly insightful look at the modern day marriage, as a lot of its insight doesn’t particularly come across as convincing or very fresh.
It is much more successful at being a movie about a father and his daughter, thanks in large part to the easy charm that Murray supplies. Laura and Felix’s relationship is interesting, one where they kind of humour each other to an unhelpful degree, but also one that is clearly built on a great deal of affection. They bring out the worst decision making in each other, as this ends up becoming more of a fable of confirmation bias regarding Laura’s anxieties and Felix’s superficial lifestyle. Even then, despite the strong performances and engaging moments of conversation they have, where we end up doesn’t feel entirely fulfilling, as the lessons learned don’t quite have enough weight and conviction to them to feel all that earnt.
On The Rocks comes dangerously close to being a fairly disposable effort from Coppola. It is unlikely that many will consider this in conversation when considering what is her greatest work. It feels a little too thin in original observation and doesn’t feel particularly fulfilling. But when it clicks back into more of a hangout vibe, cruising around the city of New York and enjoying some cocktails, it becomes a more palatable and witty experience. Much of why On The Rocks ultimately feels worthwhile is seeing Jones and Murray together.
Summary
On The Rocks is a more palatable and witty experience when we’re cruising around the city of New York and enjoying some cocktails. Much of why On The Rocks ultimately feels worthwhile is seeing Jones and Murray together.
On The Rocks is on Apple TV+ from October 23rd.
