On the Rocks isn't as potent as its top-shelf ingredients might suggest, but the end result still goes down easy -- and offers high proof of Bill Murray's finely aged charm. Read critic reviews
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On the Rocks videos
On the Rocks: Trailer 1
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Movie Info
Faced with sudden doubts about her marriage, a young New York mother teams up with her larger-than-life playboy father to tail her husband.
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Rating: R
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Genre: Comedy
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Original Language: English
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Director: Sofia Coppola
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Producer: Sofia Coppola, Youree Henley
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Writer: Sofia Coppola
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Release Date (Theaters): limited
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Release Date (Streaming):
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Runtime:
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Distributor: A24
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Production Co: A24, American Zoetrope
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Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)
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News & Interviews for On the Rocks
Critic Reviews for On the Rocks
Audience Reviews for On the Rocks
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Sofia Coppola's examination on the relationship between fathers and daughters feels like it would have been more entertaining had it gone for a more farcical tone. On the Rocks follows a struggling writer (Rashida Jones) who is questioning whether her husband (Marlon Wayans) is having an affair. Her partner in this makeshift investigation is her bigwig father (Bill Murray), a notorious Lothario whose own penchant for cheating and flirting with every woman has shaped his daughter's perspective on relationships. If this is a comedy, I can't tell you where the comedy parts are. The premise sounds rife with potential for hijinks and comedic mishaps trying to remain elusive. The father-daughter history is also ready for some combustible confrontations and perhaps some shades of earned empathy by the end. The problem is that the movie just sort of happens. It unfurls before your eyes, and those elements are there for the taking, but Coppola's story never seems to really grab at any of them to build more sustained engagement. It feels like Coppola has taken a zany sitcom premise and adopted the tone of a somber indie exploring middle-class ennui. The amusement is under the oppressive force of melancholy. Jones has some outstanding moments and Murray is at his best when he's onscreen with her, his outwardly performative qualities shining light on a relative unspoken history that hangs over them. Even Marlon Wayans is good as the possibly philandering spouse. Really, the movie seems to be about the gnawing questions of doubt and suspicion and how quickly one can succumb to them. By the end, I don't really know what Coppola was going for here. It's a nice enough film, it holds your interest, and it has a few surprises, though I don't know if they amount to much. On the Rocks feels like an early draft of a much better or much funnier movie. Nate's Grade: B-
nathan z Super Reviewer -
While its comedy sets it apart from her other work (though Murray provided similar comedic relief in the iconic Lost in Translation), On the Rocks still contains the classic tropes of a Sofia Coppola film: an intimate look at isolation, satirical depictions of privileged society, and a cinematographic love letter to a place and time. In the past, Coppola has taken us dreamingly through suburbia in The Virgin Suicides, Tokyo in Lost in Translation, Versailles in Marie Antoinette, and now the streets, restaurants, and apartments of Manhattan in On the Rocks. The film is understated and pleasant, with Murray stealing the show and the story offering some much needed uplift and comfort.
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Feels like a minor work, but the interplay between Murray and Jones is always engaging and the small details about this particular set of New Yorkers being depicted are spot on.
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Mumblecore is a term used for a film that uses an excess amount of dialogue to carry a viewer from start to finish. Whether you're talking about a Richard Linklater film like Dazed and Confused (which is what he's best known for) or an indie comedy like Drinking Buddies, this term is thrown around a lot. Sometimes used to dive deep into a character's psyche or simply because the writer wanted to have a lengthy conversation linger on for a while, there are many ways of explaining mumblecore films. The reason I felt the need to explain that term for those who haven't heard it before, is due to the fact that I'm obsessed with this type of filmmaking/writing and loved watching On the Rocks for that reason alone. Here's why I believe On the Rocks, although pretty bare-bones in terms of complexity, is one of the better films of 2020 so far. After thinking her husband Dean (Marlon Wayans) is acting suspiciously with one of his co-workers, Laura (Rashida Jones) decides to reconnect with her father (Bill Murray). He then sides with her and makes a huge effort to prove whether or not her husband is being loyal to her. At its core, On the Rocks is a fun little New York City adventure flick that has Rashida Jones and Bill Murray stalking Marlon Wayans. From lengthy conversations to heartfelt moments between spouses and family, this film had me invested from the very beginning. It also doesn't hurt that this film is all about the performances of Jones and Murray because their chemistry here is terrific. Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, this isn't her first outing that included Bill Murray in a significant role. Lost in Translation is easily my favourite film she has ever done and that film involved Bill Murray, so it only seems natural that I think her second-best film might just be On the Rocks. I enjoyed her efforts in both Somewhere and The Bling Ring very much, but nothing ever seemed to come close to the precision that came from her in Lost in Translation. I think that's why I enjoyed On the Rocks so much. I felt hints of Lost in Translation trying to come out, but this overall film was too restrained for it to be as thought-provoking as that one. Look, this film is predictable from start to finish and for that reason, it may seem like the film went nowhere to some viewers, but I just loved spending time with these characters. If a film can suck you in with the characters on-screen, it's already done a great job. The "stuck in his ways" lines of dialogue that Bill Murray is given only deepened my love for the character and made him more authentic to a man of his age in today's day. On top of that, Rashida Jones played off his quips with easy and I completely bought her rendition of an overly stressed woman with a father like this. Even though some of the dialogue might feel overwritten due to how much of it there truly is, I just enjoyed the short little journey this film took me on. Overall, On the Rocks isn't going to win any awards, but if there was an Oscars category for movies that make you smile, this film might just take that one for 2020. I was grinning from ear to ear throughout the majority of the run time. I would almost say that the core story is about a father reconnecting with his daughter, even though the film suggests on multiple occasions that it's about whether or not Laura's husband is cheating on her. I also just want to add that I have really enjoyed Marlon Wayans lately. His last few performances have been outside of his wacky comedic routes and I feel that he actually has some really strong dramatic talents lingering around somewhere. I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed On the Rocks and if you're interested in checking it out too, it's now streaming on Apple TV+.
kj p Super Reviewer
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