The first thing I did after watching this movie was google to discover if Jason Schwatzman’s schwartz was really that, um, schwartzy. (Yes, I know the actual meaning of schwartz differs from that in Spaceballs … but I’m uncomfortable using the word “cock” in the first line of a review, y’know?) Turns out it’s a prosthetic, like Marky Mark wore in Boogie Nights. *Phew* Not that I was intimidated or anything. What? Never. Never. Just, whew.
The Overnight has Duplass brothers written all over it. Yeah, they seem only to be producers here, but the format seems very familiar – brief, mostly verbal, low-budget, B-stars, limited sets, and yet always worth your attention. You probably wouldn’t guess that a film about two couples having dinner together with their kids would, half way through, have a naked dancing dick off between leads Schwartzman and Adam Scott.
Yeah, maybe I should work up to all of that.
Alex (Scott) and Emily (Taylor Schilling) are a shy one-child couple uprooted to El Lay. At the playground, they’re befriended by peer parent Kurt (Schwartzman) for dinner. Sure, there’s the awkwardness of invitation and acceptance; Alex realizes his gift bottle of wine is far too cheap upon approaching Kurt’s estate and peels the label off to pretend it’s a greater gift than it really is. Kurt introduces his wife Charlotte (Judith Godrèche). Dinner goes well. Yay. A new friend. It’s bedtime for the small boys and Kurt pushes a plan to let them fall asleep in the house while the adults have “adult fun.”
I know what you’re thinking: “Ah, ‘adult’ fun; what, they pull out the whips, chains and safety words once the kids go down?” Well, at least that’s what I was thinking. But it’s not like that; not yet at least. Sure, they break out weed to go with the wine. And then Kurt shares Charlotte’s “acting.” She was in an informercial, isn’t that neat? (Hey, a Charlotte’s Webinar :P ) What’s that? A “homemade” informerical? About use of 
breast pumps? Oh. This isn’t really an infomercial, is it?
Yeah, you want to say “this is where it got weird,” but there’s still Kurt’s paintings, Charlotte’s quick trip to the massage parlor and nude swimming to come. In the pool, Kurt’s “massive horse cock” steals focus like a car alarm in a library.
All this time, of course, we sympathize with the noobs, Alec and Emily, because they’re the outsiders, like us. What’s coming? What are we going to be asked to do? Something dangerous? Something illegal? Something sexual? What? And, of course, when that moment comes, will they makes the same choice that I would make? Can’t say The Overnight was much more than a simple one act play in film form, but it did keep me guessing, which is better than if it did not.
The new pair is invited to stay the night
Having adult fun until morning’s light
What will entail?
GOOD LORD, what a male!
Sorry, but that member ain’t right
Rated R, 79 Minutes
D: Patrick Brice
W: Patrick Brice
Genre: Ummmm … where is this going?
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: The curious
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Puritans
