Miss Flo couldn’t even save this one.
With all style and no substance, Don’t Worry Darling was a confusing yet predictable 123-minute-long drag. With some enjoyable moments and a solid aesthetic, the film wasn’t all bad, but it lacked structure and felt thrown together. It felt like an amalgamation of ideas without proper execution.
In my humble opinion, Harry Styles was disastrously miscast. There are so many actors who could have played this part with more depth and capability than what Styles was able to offer: for example, I think Evan Peters (of American Horror Story and most recently, Dahmer, fame) could have played this role with his multifaceted skills and ability. I could come up with a whole list of potential recasts, but that’s for another time. Styles’ performance felt empty and forced…I wouldn’t be surprised if he only was cast because the girlies thought he was cute.
On the other hand, Florence Pugh gave what could be the performance of her career. I was drawn to her and her portrayal of Alice. She lit up the screen and stole every scene–even when the film was off its axis and the whole thing felt unhinged and confusing. She grounded it in a really special way that made it the tiniest bit easier to follow. If there was one thing right about this movie, it was Florence Pugh.
Regarding the rest of the cast, there are some players whose presence bewildered me. What was Nick Kroll doing there?!?! I mean, I’m okay with it (SHUT UP, BILL!), but HUH? Also–Kiki Layne? Criminally underused for being such a critical part of the story. She is literally the catalyst of every main conflict and yet she has a screentime of maybe five minutes.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate Gemma Chan and Chris Pine, who both served in their performances but have not received enough recognition or credit for their contributions to this movie. I didn’t even know they were in the movie until Chris Pine got spat on. What a life we live.
I don’t think that this movie was worth all of the drama. Maybe if none of that drama happened, I would’ve liked the movie better. Particularly, hearing all of the weird stuff Olivia Wilde allegedly did made me detest her onscreen character, whose lack of originality felt like a direct knock-off of Wanda Maximoff…I can’t say much more than that, or else the whole plot of the movie would get spoiled, but it was in my head for the whole time and I’ve been waiting to say it.
The aesthetic was beautiful. This movie was fun to look at and think about from a visual lens. The 50s aesthetic was accurate but not painfully in-your-face, and I thought it was cool for both the story and the visuals how the whole film takes place in the middle of the desert. I liked the watered-grass/suburbia contrast to the desert. I think the cinematography could have been better, but for a “movie that feels like a movie––it fits the bill.
I think everyone and their mother can tell how I feel about this movie. Did I like it from the perspective of a critic? Not at all. Did I have a good time at the theater? Honestly, yes I did. I had a good time laughing with my friends about how wild this thing was, so if asked whether or not I’d recommend this movie…I’d say I do. You should watch it just to say that you’ve watched it.