Title: Vengeance
MPAA Rating: R
Director: BJ Novak
Starring: BJ Novak, Boyd Holbrook, Dove Cameron
Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins

What It Is: In a case of mistaken identity, we think, New York writer Ben (Novak) is told that an ex-beau has died and told by her brother that he wants Ben’s help in uncovering the mysterious circumstance of this death. Ben being who he is he turns the entire thing into a series of podcast episodes chronicling his experiences in rural Texas with the very different circumstances they live in. That is if he survives this ordeal.

What We Think: Novak really brings it here. The characters are ones that could come off as one-dimensional but they don’t and that’s a credit to Novak’s writing. Ben could be unlikable and he mostly is, but if we hadn’t ever met his Ryan Howard we’d have probably stayed not enjoying this character, but Novak is good at being snooty and unlikable. The storytelling is so well thought out. It has an ending that frankly I enjoyed because it was a bit of a surprise. The whole mystery of the film unravels itself really well and throughout has you laughing at the situations we’re in. They’re preposterous but not out of the realm of reality. They’re real while also playing out in a very positive VERY movie way.

Our Grade: B, This was a bit of a surprise for me and one that had me really surprised and thankful to have been through the experience of this pretty good comedy. Novak is gold from a writing standpoint and I’d love to watch more stuff he’s written down put on my screen. I’d recommend this one highly. It does what comedies are suppose to do while bringing the interesting whodunit angle into the fold with it. Check this one out! It’s on Peacock…though I don’t think a ton of people have that app.