Secrets, Stress, and Social Smiles Shatter

Read Time:4 Minute, 58 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
The Trouble with Jessica
–

Genre: Comedy
Year Released: 2023, 2025
Runtime: 1h 30m
Director(s): Matt Winn
Writer(s): James Handel, Matt Winn
Cast: Alan Tudyk, Rufus Sewell, Shirley Henderson, Olivia Williams, Indira Varma
Where to Watch: Only in theaters April 25, 2025

RAVING REVIEW: When the walls start to close in, what do people cling to first: their morality or their mortgage? That question hovers over every silence and sideways glance in this darkly comic ensemble piece. The film walks the tightrope between discomfort and absurdity, carefully peeling back layers of social pleasantries to expose a core built on convenience, compromise, and just a hint of chaos. What begins as a simple gathering spirals into an unintended test of friendships, loyalties, and ethics, revealing the unnerving ease with which people can slip into denial when their lifestyle is at stake.

The story takes place inside a sleek London home where a financially burdened couple throws what’s meant to be a last hurrah before selling their property. But what’s supposed to be an evening of nostalgia and wine gets upended by the arrival of an unexpected guest—and a shocking twist that spins the evening into a carefully managed disaster. The plot, while grounded in a single location, plays like a stage production full of shifting allegiances and increasingly uncomfortable exchanges. The question becomes not just how the evening will end, but how far these characters are willing to go to keep their secrets and their plans intact.

One of the film’s biggest strengths lies in its casting. Shirley Henderson delivers a performance that constantly teeters on the edge, capturing a character who’s trying to stay composed while mentally juggling moral calculations. Alan Tudyk turns on the charm just long enough to make his descent into self-serving desperation believable. Rufus Sewell provides a dose of arrogance that helps fuel the tension, while Olivia Williams softens the mood with a quiet yet simmering presence. Indira Varma offers a narrative ripple that impacts every decision made afterward. Each actor finds a measure in the script’s stop-start cadence, which plays heavily on awkward pauses, passive-aggressive digs, and the slow unraveling of decorum.

Despite these strengths, the film doesn’t dig quite deep enough into its characters. While the performances are layered, the script rarely gives the emotional aftermath time to breathe. Much of the character's motivation remains implied rather than explored. Reactions happen quickly, sometimes too quickly, and internal dilemmas are swept aside to make room for the next uncomfortable scenario. As a result, some of the potential complexity is left unexplored, and moments that should feel like significant turning points instead feel more like plot checkpoints.

Tonally, the movie shifts gears frequently—and not always seamlessly. It oscillates between satirical humor and moral drama, sometimes landing somewhere in the middle, other times veering too far in either direction. The subject matter requires a delicate approach, especially when exploring themes of accountability. While the film does make an effort to approach these moments with care, it doesn’t always succeed in merging tone and topic. When the balance tips, it leaves the audience unsure whether to laugh, cringe, or reflect—and occasionally it seems the film isn’t sure either.

That said, there is a compelling thematic core here: the idea that people will abandon their principles when faced with the risk of losing status, comfort, or reputation. The story doesn’t hammer this point—it lets the characters demonstrate it for themselves. Watching them rationalize increasingly questionable actions becomes a case study in social survival. It’s that subtle descent from awkward dinner conversation to full-blown ethical crisis that makes the film engaging, even when it stumbles in execution.

Despite these missteps, the experience remains absorbing. The film maintains momentum, never feeling slow or repetitive, even if it occasionally circles the same territory. Its minimalist design and ensemble structure are strengths, giving the audience just enough room to immerse themselves in the drama while staying focused on the interpersonal fireworks. And even if it doesn’t offer groundbreaking revelations, it does offer a sharp portrait of people who find themselves backed into a corner—and then decide that lying down is easier than climbing out.

Ultimately, the film presents a scenario that feels both exaggerated and entirely plausible. That blend of absurdity and realism is where it finds its voice, even if it’s sometimes hesitant to use it fully. The result is a movie that keeps you watching, makes you squirm, and leaves you reflecting on how quickly the line between right and wrong can shift when it’s your life on the table.

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[photo courtesy of MUSIC BOX FILMS]

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