April 23, 2025
FILM: THE TROUBLE WITH JESSICA
DIRECTED BY: MATT WINN
STARRING: ALAN TUDYK, SHIRLEY HENDERSON, RUFUS SEWELL
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
As we start heading into blockbuster season, it’s good to know that there are other films out there that appeal to another demographic. Sadly, some of these films find it hard to get distributed in any meaningful manner for people to actually get to see them. That is why The Trouble with Jessica is a special one to check out right now. It was released in the U.K. a year ago and is now getting a limited release here in the U.S. It’s the kind of film that a certain adult audience will appreciate for its witty black comedy, good performances, and entertaining twists. It’s not a perfect film but it is enjoyable enough to recommend – that is unless you only want superheroes and special effects.
The film feels like a stage play that takes place in one evening in a single setting. In fact, the film was shot during COVID which likely made it easier to complete than most other films at the time. The story begins in the home of a fairly sophisticated couple who are about to have a dinner party. Tom (Alan Dudyk) and Sarah (Shirley Henderson) are in the midst of a financial crisis which requires them to sell their beautiful home. They’ve invited their long-time friends Richard (Rufus Sewell) and Beth (Olivia Williams) who bring along another old friend Jessica (Indira Varma.) Of course, based on the film’s title it is clear that there is some “trouble with Jessica.” She has just written a best-selling book which may or may not feature episodes from her own life as well as some of these friends’ lives.
There’s not a lot of initial exposition here as it becomes clear very early on that Jessica is a troublesome figure from their past. She’s brash and forward. Not everyone is thrilled to see her. What follows is an explosion of interpersonal issues and a sudden tragic event occurring outside in the garden. The plot moves briskly and comically with the characters having to deal with the problem at hand. Doorbells ring. Secrets are revealed. Blackmail ensues and the new home buyers arrive with little notice.
This is the kind of farce that features a lot of arguments, fast movements, and shifts in plot development. All of this is handled quite well under the direction of Matt Winn who also co-wrote the script. He keeps the cameras moving and editing solidly paced. The score is jazzy with a very modern edge which is at once playful and also full of mystery.
The actors are uniformly suited to this work, recognizing it as something darkly funny and urgent. Even several that turn up for one or two scenes, such as Anne Reid as a nosey neighbor and super fan of the author, operate on the same tonal and comedic level.
The title is played with and altered several times throughout the film. The trouble is not just with Jessica but also friends, neighbors, law enforcement, and so on. Some might recall one of Alfred Hitchcock’s films, The Trouble with Harry, which also brought humor to a dark situation filled with eccentric characters. Much is the same here. Sure, there are moments that are played in the same kind of dark, broad manner as a film like Nine to Five with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton, but that’s okay. This is a bit of an homage to such comedies that go far plot-wise for a laugh or two but that are always recognized as enjoyable entertainment. Don’t we all need some of that right now?
The Trouble with Jessica opens this week in limited theatrical release.
FILM: THE TROUBLE WITH JESSICA
DIRECTED BY: MATT WINN
STARRING: ALAN TUDYK, SHIRLEY HENDERSON, RUFUS SEWELL
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
As we start heading into blockbuster season, it’s good to know that there are other films out there that appeal to another demographic. Sadly, some of these films find it hard to get distributed in any meaningful manner for people to actually get to see them. That is why The Trouble with Jessica is a special one to check out right now. It was released in the U.K. a year ago and is now getting a limited release here in the U.S. It’s the kind of film that a certain adult audience will appreciate for its witty black comedy, good performances, and entertaining twists. It’s not a perfect film but it is enjoyable enough to recommend – that is unless you only want superheroes and special effects.
The film feels like a stage play that takes place in one evening in a single setting. In fact, the film was shot during COVID which likely made it easier to complete than most other films at the time. The story begins in the home of a fairly sophisticated couple who are about to have a dinner party. Tom (Alan Dudyk) and Sarah (Shirley Henderson) are in the midst of a financial crisis which requires them to sell their beautiful home. They’ve invited their long-time friends Richard (Rufus Sewell) and Beth (Olivia Williams) who bring along another old friend Jessica (Indira Varma.) Of course, based on the film’s title it is clear that there is some “trouble with Jessica.” She has just written a best-selling book which may or may not feature episodes from her own life as well as some of these friends’ lives.
There’s not a lot of initial exposition here as it becomes clear very early on that Jessica is a troublesome figure from their past. She’s brash and forward. Not everyone is thrilled to see her. What follows is an explosion of interpersonal issues and a sudden tragic event occurring outside in the garden. The plot moves briskly and comically with the characters having to deal with the problem at hand. Doorbells ring. Secrets are revealed. Blackmail ensues and the new home buyers arrive with little notice.
This is the kind of farce that features a lot of arguments, fast movements, and shifts in plot development. All of this is handled quite well under the direction of Matt Winn who also co-wrote the script. He keeps the cameras moving and editing solidly paced. The score is jazzy with a very modern edge which is at once playful and also full of mystery.
The actors are uniformly suited to this work, recognizing it as something darkly funny and urgent. Even several that turn up for one or two scenes, such as Anne Reid as a nosey neighbor and super fan of the author, operate on the same tonal and comedic level.
The title is played with and altered several times throughout the film. The trouble is not just with Jessica but also friends, neighbors, law enforcement, and so on. Some might recall one of Alfred Hitchcock’s films, The Trouble with Harry, which also brought humor to a dark situation filled with eccentric characters. Much is the same here. Sure, there are moments that are played in the same kind of dark, broad manner as a film like Nine to Five with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton, but that’s okay. This is a bit of an homage to such comedies that go far plot-wise for a laugh or two but that are always recognized as enjoyable entertainment. Don’t we all need some of that right now?
The Trouble with Jessica opens this week in limited theatrical release.