Netflix’s Living with Yourself stars Paul Rudd as Miles Elliot, a man who lives an unhappy life. Miles is unhappy in his work and his marriage. Stifled by the suburbs, Miles falls into a monotony of predictably and mediocrity. So, when Mile’s co-worker Dan suggests Miles go to a “spa” to become a better version of himself, Miles withdraws all of his money from his savings account and goes to get the treatment done. (Warning, this article will contain spoilers ahead!)
When Miles used to live in New York, he was energetic and happy. He was kept alive by the bustling of the city. He went on runs and was happy with his job. He was happy in his marriage. But after moving to the suburbs, he slowly stopped running. He stopped striving for more. Miles fell into a comfortable routine, one that made him miserable. Because who isn’t miserable when there is no room for growth?
This perpetual feeling of being stuck led Miles to get a “spa” treatment. In truth, he was cloned. However, faulty machinery botched the procedure. Miles didn’t die when they cloned him. Instead, he woke up alive in the middle of a forest surrounded by bodies. And now, there were two of him.
New Miles has a new perspective on life. He is energetic and happy. He didn’t live through all of the things Mile had, even though he had the same memories.
For Miles, it’s hard to live with the fact that a new version of himself exists in the world. Not only that, but this version of him is better. New Miles is not tired of his life. He is happy with what he has and finds ways to grow in a place that had long stifled Miles. He pays attention to Kate, his wife. He comes up with new ideas at work. He becomes friends with people Miles wouldn’t have otherwise befriended. It isn’t to say that things are hard for New Miles. After all, he is a clone. He has to live with the fact that he is not Miles. He only has Miles’ memories, but he did not live through what Miles did. Most of all, he has to accept that he came randomly into existence because Miles wanted to improve himself.
Here is perhaps what makes Living With Yourself the most interesting. Miles has to live with himself, with another version of him that is not tired of his life. If living with yourself (without having a clone) is hard enough, can you imagine what it is like for there to be another you? No less a better version of you who everyone seems to be happier with? New Miles fights with Miles. He often disagrees with him and sabotages their deal of working by leaving for New York. It’s interesting, the way New Miles sabotages Miles. But what is most interesting is the way Miles sabotaged his own happiness. And how, lots of people do that, without the need of a clone.
Living With Yourself is an interesting look at, well, what it is like to live with yourself. It was released on Netflix on October 18 and is now available for streaming.