A disillusioned man nearing 40 thinks he’s found a loophole in a deadly dark web game in Self Reliance, which is now streaming on Hulu in the States. Written and directed by Jake Johnson, who also stars in the lead role, this offbeat comedy isn’t always convincing, but a wealth of fun supporting performances help keep it afloat.
Self Reliance stars Johnson as Tommy, a 40ish sadsack who has found himself living at home with mom (Miriam Flynn) after breaking up with his longtime girlfriend (Natalie Morales). Tommy seems hopeless both personally and professionally, as depicted during repetitious scenes staring down Excel documents at his data entry job.
But one afternoon on his way home from work, Tommy is approached by a limo carrying Andy Samberg – the SNL veteran plays himself – and asked if he wants to take part in a mysterious adventure. Not averse to filling the monotony of his day-to-day life, and at the behest of a known celebrity, Tommy quickly agrees.
Said adventure, as explained to Tommy in a deserted warehouse after Samberg drops him off: as part of a dark web reality show, he will be hunted by assassins attempting to take his life, but if he can survive for 30 days he’ll win a million dollars. Tommy isn’t entirely convinced at the legitimacy of the offer, but identifies a loophole in the game: the assassins can only kill him when he’s alone.
Figuring he can always have someone next to him for the 30 days without interruption, Tommy takes a chance and signs himself up to be the target of deadly killers for the next month. If, that is, this outrageous game show really exists. Tommy is soon convinced, but everyone around him has their doubts. So do we.
First established as a lighthearted comedy, Self Reliance plays off the premise of relying on other people for your own safety to surprisingly profound depth. Tommy quickly realizes that he can’t depend on his family; they simply don’t believe his story. A fellow contestant he meets through Craigslist (Anna Kendrick) offers hope. But ultimately, Tommy finds himself living on the streets as his only option.
Because the premise is so outrageous – almost no one in the world of the film believes him – Self Reliance also plays out as a parable of mental illness, as Tommy’s family witnesses his journey as a spiral of self-destruction. If only Tommy could get others to buy into the crazy story he’s selling, his safety would be guaranteed. But there’s the rub.
In his feature directorial debut, Johnson borrows some elements from past starring vehicles, including the unbelievable premise that people play along with for fun from Safety Not Guaranteed, and the elaborate public game in Tag. But he succeeds in Self Reliance by surrounding himself with an excellent supporting cast that plays off both the comic and dramatic elements of the story. Biff Wiff, perhaps best known for his performance as Santa Claus on I Think You Should Leave, steals the show as a homeless man Tommy pays to be his shadow.
Self Reliance is hindered by the fact that much like the supporting characters, we never really buy into its central premise and half-expect a twist ending to explain Tommy’s descent into madness. That makes it hard to get invested in the adventure aspects of the movie, and despite a brief appearance by GaTa that clarifies some things, it never functions as the kind of Most Dangerous Game thriller that it could have.
Still, thanks to the appealing offbeat comedy and fun performances all around, Self Reliance is well worth checking out. There are some laughs to be had here, but the movie also functions as a unexpectedly deep parable about looking out for ourselves.
