I had first heard about Apple TV+ through Meng last year (makes sense as he’s drinking that Apple Juice Kool Aid), and wasn’t a believer given 1. I don’t pay for any subscription services and 2. The library was quite limited at that time.
Fast forward a year, and I was convinced to redeem my free year of Apple TV+ that I got with my new MBA. Why not? Use it or lose it. We started out watching “For All Mankind” (which I gave up on), “The Morning Show” (which was soooo slow but I still finished). “Ted Lasso” was definitely the service winner for me. But this isn’t about “Ted Lasso.” This is about “On The Rocks.”
I had seen the ads while watching “Ted Lasso” — thank you Apple TV for not making it easy to skip..and I knew this was a movie right up my alley. Father-daughter bonding, funny with just enough cringe, and wholesome. And it’s A24! What else do you need to know LOL
The trailer gives away enough of the plot to let you know what’s going on, but keeps much of the character building (not so much development) for the real deal. Essentially Laura (Rashida Jones) suspects her husband Dean (Marlon Wayans) may be cheating on her. Her father Felix (Bill Murray) takes her on a spy mission to find out.
Despite its typical chick flick set up, the two things that stood out to me most are the bling (read more here), Bill Murray’s creation of an awesome Felix.
The Bling
The (visual) part of the movie opens with Dean and Laura’s wedding, as they sneak away from the party down a Cinderlla spiral staircase to skinny dip in an amazing tiled spa-pool. Almost Roman inspired but don’t take it from me — I’m only about a third of the way through my Roman architecture intro class. I don’t know about you but my wedding dinner party will probably be at a medicore Chinese restaurant with stained tablecloths.
My favorite Bling of the movie is a tie between Laura’s purse selection and her “friend” from school. Throughout the movie, Laura goes for a weird combination of a classic Chanel purse with a hip but mainstream tote from The Strand. It’s like a weird flex of both old money with the Chanel, and new money with The Strand. I have two totes myself, but both are free. Can’t bring myself to buy a branded tote for anything over $15!
Then there’s her “friend” who gets mad props for the Valley Girl monologues about her love life while they wait in line for their kids’ teacher to open the classroom. The first time we see her, she’s got a cup of Cha Cha Matcha in hand, easily recognizable by the cute palm trees and pink pastel background. The last time we see her, she’s sporting a full out hoodie with the same design. I’ve only passed by the store (fortunately or unfortunately for me it was pretty late at night and I didn’t try any) but if that doesn’t scream IG-matcha I don’t know what else would.
Non-sarcastically, the hidden Monet that Laura and Felix admire for a few moments at his acquaintance’s condo is beautiful and bougie. #lifegoals right there — to own an unguarded personal Monet in your Manhattan condo!
Felix
What has Bill Murray NOT been in? This man’s imdb is longer than my longest journal entry. No exaggeration here, but he carried this movie. His fatherly warning opens the movie, telling young Laura to never give her heart away to any man. In hindsight, the complexity of their family’s relationship and his affair(s) make this a much more bittersweet dialogue.
He is like a god in New York. He knows everyone and everything, everywhere. He’s friends with all the front of house, back of house, and even NYPD. He is vacationing in France when we first meet him over the phone, and doesn’t seem to have a care in the world as he flirts with the ballerina restaurant server and teacher.
I thought things wouldn’t get crazier than the wild car chase in his Crayola red Alfa Romeo through the busy streets of Manhattan, smooth talking his way out of a ticket and even getting the cops to help push-start his car again. All so they could continue their spy mission with binoculars in one hand, and caviar hor d’oeuvres in the other. But he quickly whisks Laura off to Mexico to continue the spy journey through the continent, complete with golf cart, serenades, and a safari cargo vest.
My favorite scene of him has to be during this part of the film. The father daughter duo take a moment to relax during dusk after arriving in Mexico. It’s no secret that dusk always has a certain sense of magic to it as it marks the transition from day to night. With no intention to disturb the peace, Laura asks her father why he cheated. Instead of launching into one of his many biological theories about hunter-gatherer women and their haunches, he’s overtaken by a moment of silence. I wish it could have gone on even just a little bit longer, as the shot frames his face with just enough light such that we can see the sorrow and pain enter his expression.
For so much of the film, he just wants to take care of Laura’s heart with gestures like surprising her with a massive bouquet of pink roses for her birthday, calling her kiddo and shorty, chatting and whistling with her. This is the first and only moment we actually see him as himself; not just “Laura’s bougie dad.” He owned this scene, and I argue carried the entire film with Felix.
So did I break my mediocre movie streak?
Me: Worth?
Him: Yes
