The Trouble with Jessica
Genres Comedy
Directors Matt Winn
Writer James Handel
Country United Kingdom
Votes 1324
Rating 5.8
IMDBID tt15507128
Runtime 89
Languages English
Release 20 May, 2025
Cast Alan Tudyk ,Shirley Henderson ,Rufus Sewell ,Olivia Williams ,Indira Varma
Sarah and Tom are in deep financial trouble. Their situation takes a terrifying nosedive with the shocking behavior of their uninvited dinner guest, Jessica.
CinemaSerf
A dinner party from hell or what? We quickly learn that hosts "Sarah" (Shirley Henderson) and husband "Tom" (Alan Tudyk) are having to sell their luxury home else face repossession. For some reason that seemed like a good reason to invite long-term friends "Richard" (Rufus Sewell) and wife "Beth" (Olivia Williams) round for food. It's the latter who throws a real spanner in the works by inviting the eponymous "Jessica" (Indira Varma). Let's just say that the hostess and this guest get on like a house that's already burnt down, and as the vino flows (tiny measures in huge great glasses) things come to an head that leaves the four with quite an headache. What now ensues might well have worked on stage, indeed the entire film has a theatrical style to it, but I found it all just a bit to hysteria-prone, contrived and over-dramatic. None of the actors are on especially good form, especially the lacklustre Tudyk and the script seems more determined to make sure each character gets their moment in the spotlight rather than designed to offer us something to laugh - or even smile at. On that front, there are the odd lines to make you titter, but just not enough of them to pass this feature-length more miss than hit sit-com. It will pass ninety minutes easily enough at Christmas on the telly, but nothing much more than that, sorry.
posts by : CinemaSerf