The Trouble with Jessica

A dinner party from hell or what? We quickly learn that hosts "Sarah" (Shirley Henderson) and husband "Tom" (Alan Tudyk) are having to sell their luxury home else face repossession. For some reason that seemed like a good reason to invite long-term friends "Richard" (Rufus Sewell) and wife "Beth" (Olivia Williams) round for food. It's the latter who throws a real spanner in the works by inviting the eponymous "Jessica" (Indira Varma). Let's just say that the hostess and this guest get on like a house that's already burnt down, and as the vino flows (tiny measures in huge great glasses) things come to an head that leaves the four with quite an headache. What now ensues might well have worked on stage, indeed the entire film has a theatrical style to it, but I found it all just a bit to hysteria-prone, contrived and over-dramatic. None of the actors are on especially good form, especially the lacklustre Tudyk and the script seems more determined to make sure each character gets their moment in the spotlight rather than designed to offer us something to laugh - or even smile at. On that front, there are the odd lines to make you titter, but just not enough of them to pass this feature-length more miss than hit sit-com. It will pass ninety minutes easily enough at Christmas on the telly, but nothing much more than that, sorry.

I watched this on netflix and really enjoyed it. It felt like a stage play adapted for a tv film. Excellent actors. Fantastic dialogue. I had never heard of Clafoutis!! The plot is full of twists. It has slapstick. I am surprised the movie has not scored higher here on IMDB. I do not want to give away spoilers but I initially just wanted to play 2 minutes before I went to bed so it would appear on my 'still watching' list but I watched the whole thing because it grabbed my attention and I could not break away. I thought I knew what the ending would be but I was wrong. How can Indira Varma still look so sexy? She does not seem to age. Enjoy.

The trouble with Jessica is hilarious and dark, charming yet tragic- a farcical comedy brimming with social observations and emotional twists and turns. The cast is terrific at delivering witty and ruthless dialogue whilst playing self absorbed monied liberals -making watching them sweat and squirm all the more enjoyable. There are poignant and witty observations about relationships and the hypocrisy of the wealthy. The jazz score elevates the slap stick elements and ramps up the panic, anxiety and the high tension. It has a lightness of touch within a deeply dark subject matter. It was 90 minutes of devilish deliciousness!

For a film that is more in line with a stage play 'Jessica' manages to keep the action reasonably fast. Having said that, as its rather claustrophobic setting and premise gets deeper into its darker territory it can be felt to drag somewhat - think 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf'. While Virginia had the good sense to keep its heavy dialogue in a measured place 'Jessica' goes all out to be trendy and only wants to appeal to the modern cocktail generation, those who feel it's 'smart' to change the meaning of words in an effort to appear hip. Those who have tailored themselves to fit into these circles won't even notice the wall-to-wall swear fest.

Production values are polished enough, and performances are convincing, but the endless efforts to outswear each other may just leave some of the audience wanting to part with their company. Overall it's a revisitation of several Hitchcock themes involving what to do with the body of a guest who 'departs' during a dinner party involving a small group of old friends. Now sit back and watch the uncomfortable truths that leach out of each other's (secret) toxic personas and pasts.

Strictly for those that can take this type of approach.

The trouble with "The Trouble With Jessica", despite it being a neatly cast dark Brit dramedy, is co-writers Matt Winn (who also directed) & James Handel's inconsistent tone that lapses in style from serious wordy play (albeit one with the characters taking ridiculously implausible actions) to bursts of "A Weekend At Bernies" crass slapstick. Middle-class Londoners Alan Tudyk & Shirley Henderson host friends Rufus Sewell & Olivia Williams for dinner, which free-spirited pal Indira Varma effectively crashes... sparking the evening to wildly spiral. Sewell & Henderson particularly are great, but their film does not know what it is to be... and THAT is the trouble.