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Self Reliance

2023

Andy Samberg, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Natalie Morales ...

5.0

Comedy Given the opportunity to participate in a life or death reality game show, one man discovers there's a lot to live for.

	Media	Author	Review
		Peter Debruge Variety	"Operating like a pro with several movies under his belt, Johnson’s put enough thought into things that the movie’s largely free of plot holes. That said, one can’t help imagining a million other directions it might have gone"
		Valerie Complex Deadline	"[It] has interesting premise but unfocused execution spoils it"
		Jason Bailey The Playlist	"Johnson has a clean sense of montage, his indulgences in weirdness and absurdity mostly land, and there are some fairly clever twists in his script (...) 'Self Reliance' only really flags in the home stretch"
		Brian Tallerico rogerebert.com	"After the strong set-up, 'Self Reliance' just doesn't have enough actual tension or humor to carry it from day to day in Tommy's journey"
		Trace Sauveur Austin Chronicle	"Johnson’s film is certainly not a complete failure but it is inelegant and shoddy despite its best attempts at charm and affecting thematics"
		Rafael Motamayor IndieWire	"A showcase for Johnson's everyman acting chops, as well as his ability to craft an interesting script, but the overall story and execution are underwhelming"
		Lori Meek Ready Steady Cut	"The premise is exciting enough, but the heartfelt writing and Jake Johnson’s direction elevate it to a cerebral yet funny parodic take on its subject matter (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		Lovia Gyarkye The Hollywood Reporter	"Jake Johnson’s quiet and quirky directorial debut"
		Erik Adams IGN	"[It] benefits from writer-director-star Jake Johnson’s extraordinary ability to commit to a bit – but it's lacking a sense of danger"
		Mae Abdulbaki Screen Rant	"Wildly fun (...) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 5)"
		Jake Kring-Schreifels The Film Stage	"It’s got a shaggy and conversational comedic style, a few engaging co-stars capable of improvising, and a surreal scenario for its everyman’s life. You kind of know what you’re getting into, and Johnson happily meets expectations"
		Ross McIndoe Slant	"It does circle some deeper ideas about how easy the modern world makes it for an unmarried adult to become socially isolated but it never tries to make any grand statements about this state of affairs (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"
		Kristy Puchko Mashable	"In the hands of another director, its final act might have been more sharply honed. But it's undeniable that 'Self Reliance' still hits its mark"
		Brianna Zigler Paste Magazine	"Weird and washed"
		Alex Maidy JoBlo	"I hope Jake Johnson continues to work behind the camera as both writer and director, as he has proven with this movie that he is up to the task"

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