Safety Not Guaranteed

Did You Know?

• Writer Derek Connolly rewrote the lead role for Aubrey Plaza after seeing her performance in Funny People.
• The film was shot with a Sony F3 camera using old Panavision lenses to achieve a 'Hal Ashby look.'

Plot

Darius Britt, a disillusioned University of Washington graduate, lives in Seattle with her widower father and interns at Seattle Magazine. Jeff's boss Bridget approves, and Jeff selects Darius and Arnau, a studious UW student, for the team. They travel to Ocean View to find the ad's author. Jeff's ulterior motive is to reconnect with a former love interest.

Darius discovers the ad was placed by Kenneth Calloway, a grocery store stock clerk. Jeff's approach alienates Kenneth, so Darius poses as a candidate for his mission. Kenneth is paranoid about secret agents, but Darius gains his trust through training exercises. She tells Kenneth about losing her mother; Kenneth says his mission is to prevent his former girlfriend Belinda's death in 2001.

Meanwhile, Jeff tracks down Liz, a teenage fling. They reconnect, but she refuses to return to Seattle. Upset, Jeff takes Arnau out, convincing him to spend the night with a woman.

Production

The ad originated in the September/October 1997 issue of Backwoods Home, written as a joke by Senior Editor John Silveira. The same issue featured a fake personals ad using Silveira's mailing address, but the time travel ad became a cultural phenomenon, receiving thousands of letters. It was featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Car Talk, and became an internet meme on YTMND. He wrote a first draft as a buddy comedy, later rewriting the lead for Aubrey Plaza after seeing her in Funny People. Connolly tracked down Silveira, who gave permission to adapt the concept. The film was shot in Seattle, Ocean Shores, and other locations within 30 miles of Seattle, using a Sony F3 camera with old Panavision lenses for a desired look. The production budget was $750,000. Mark Duplass and his brother Jay received executive producer credit.

Critical reception

Safety Not Guaranteed holds a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 150 critics, with an average rating of 7.40/10. The site's critical consensus notes the film's strong performances, charm, and heartfelt story. Metacritic gives a score of 72 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews. Stephen Holden of The New York Times described the story's shenanigans as harnessed to a theme about fading dreams of aspiring professionals. Roger Ebert praised the dialogue, character depth, and Mark Duplass's balanced performance. The film has been called one of the most influential films of the last decade for its effect on the filmmaking industry, foreshadowing streaming's role in film creation and distribution.