When I first heard about "Palm Springs (2020)," a romantic comedy with a time-loop twist, my teenage self—still enamored with Groundhog Day—perked up. The concept of a day endlessly repeating is an existential sandbox that’s as terrifying as it is captivating. And though I approached it with cautious optimism, I quickly found myself charmed by its fresh take, quirky humor, and surprising emotional depth. While it may not be an absolute masterpiece, it's undeniably a delightful watch, and let's face it-any film that can pull off this concept without feeling stale deserves some applause.
A Duo Worth Repeating
At the heart of Palm Springs lies its strongest asset: the undeniable chemistry between Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. Samberg brings his trademark comedic energy, but beneath the jokes lies a nice layer of vulnerability, and Milioti-who I just saw delivering a masterful performance in "Penguin (2024)"-proves way more than just some sitcom sweetheart. In this, they add some laughter and heart to play out the roles of these flawed and cynical souls in a cosmic glitch. Just phenomenal-the treatment of watching them banter, bicker, and bond was an absolute delight that ramps up what otherwise could have been quite an ordinary rom-com.
A Fresh Spin on the Time Loop
Palm Springs doesn't try to outsmart its predecessors like Groundhog Day but leans into its absurdity. It finds creative ways to explore the mechanics of the loop-be it using a physics lesson for laughs or casually introducing a third loop-dweller in J.K. Simmons' Roy. The script is sharp and self-aware, keeping the story feeling fresh even for those of us who've pondered the "endless day" concept for years. Still, it never strays too far into pure comedy, balancing its absurdities with moments of genuine introspection.
The Pacing Problem
If Palm Springs has a weakness, it's in the occasional pacing hiccup. Some scenes hang around a beat too long, as if the film is savoring its own cleverness, while others race by so fast they barely have time to land. For a film about the infinite, it's almost ironic how some moments feel rushed while others drag. These inconsistencies don't make the film bad but create an uneven rhythm that's noticeable, especially in the middle act.
A Visual and Musical Oasis
The setting of the sunny California desert is beautiful and ironic, an idyllic prison that perfectly underscores the existential frustrations of the characters. Visually, it's not necessarily flashy, but it is effective with warm, saturated colors reflecting in the balance of light-heartedness and emotional depth the movie projects.
Summary: Time Well Spent
It doesn't carry quite the cultural milestone status of Groundhog Day, but it is a very enjoyable riff on the time-loop genre, with sharp humor and a remarkably inventive premise that really benefits from Samberg and Milioti being the irresistible one-two punch in the center of this thing. For sure, it has moments of poor pacing, but such shortcomings are very easy to forgive when it has so much charm on. Be it for time-loop junkies, rom-com lovers, or fans of existentialism sprinkled with humor, Palm Springs is one such film that's totally worth watching. Because, for goodness' sake, who would mind spending eternity with these two?