Sundance: How It Ends

Starring: Zoe Lister-Jones, Cailee Spaeny, Olivia Wilde, Finn Wolfhard, Helen Hunt, Lamorne Morris, Fred Armisen, Logan Marshall-Green, Nick Kroll, Glenn Howerton, Bradley Whitford, Whitney Cummings, Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel

Director: Zoe Lister-Jones, Daryl Wein

On the last day of Earth, Liza (Zoe Lister-Jones) gets invited to a party by her friend Mandy (Whitney Cummings). She has no desire to go until she finds out Nate (Logan Marshall-Green) will be going. Wanting to confess her feelings to him and have fun before the world ends, she decides to go. Only problem is she is out of weed and her car has been stolen. Along with her metaphysical younger self (Cailee Spaeny), she sets out on foot on a journey across Los Angeles, running into some bizarre characters as well ones she knows as she attempts to get to the last party on earth.

This pre-apocalyptic and largely improvisational comedy was shot during the pandemic, which helps the film feel more realistic than it should. And there is a definite energy from all the performers, who all seemed to be enjoying the fact that they were working.

It's a shame then that the film only works sporadically, especially with the dearth of comedic talent that Lister-Jones and Wain have been able to assemble. There are some genuinely laugh out loud moments, like Liza's visit to a former lover played by Lamorne Morris. Their chemistry is fantastic in their brief scene as she confronts him about their relationship in order to get some closure. Others, like Fred Armisen, Nick Kroll, and even Glenn Howerton just come off as bizarre and don't work.

The film actually worked a lot better for me in its dramatic moments. When Liza visits her mother, played by Helen Hunt, they share a genuine moment of reconciliation that really hits for both characters. When she and her younger self have a climactic argument about how grown up Liza has not allowed herself to grow up and enjoy life is poignant and powerful and sets the film up for an ultimately hopeful ending. It's not something you really get in a film like this and it really works thanks to Lister-Jones and Spaeny's chemistry. I wish their relationship had been explored a little more.

While it only works in fits and starts, this high concept comedy does have some great performances from the leads and offers a little glimmer of hope in these tough times.

Grade; B