#PaletteTunesIn for "The Incredible Jessica James"
*Spoilers lie ahead.*
“The Incredible Jessica James” beams in purple — prideful, vulnerable, direct, and all deserving of our attention.
“The Incredible Jessica James,” the 2017 Netflix hosted romantic comedy, opens with the lead character, Jessica James — played by Jessica Williams, the youngest correspondent on The Daily Show — speaking rather candidly about her former romantic relationship with a character named Damon, played by LaKeith Stanfield.
Directed and written by Jim Strouse, the entire film is a process of scenes through the life of James; from her socially conservative family, her day job as an improv teacher for the youth, intertwined with the struggle to be a successful writer, to her consistent need to distance herself from the patriarchal systems that be. All this while she seeks closure from Damon.
The movie really begins after James is introduced to an app founder named Boone, played by Chris O’Dowd. Boone and his wife are separated and he too seeks closure. In a tale as old as time, the two lonely lovers use the film’s moments to get to know one another. Rather than fall in love, “The Incredible Jessica James” tells the story of two people waiting to take a leap of faith — a leap into their next individual chapters.
The Incredible Jessica James is out on Netflix today! Please check it out on yo couch when you get a chance! No boning during the movie please!!!!!!!!!!!
July 28, 2017
Palette rates this film a 4/5 for its direct take on those in-between experiences of life post-relationship.
Damon walks up to James in one scene, arguing with her recollection of their relationship before James ended it. Before Damon can tell James why he believes they did not work, a piano falls and crushes him. The scene is fake and is one of the many dreams of Damon she has. These represent those times laying awake or asleep, replaying everything about a recent love affair, but for James, they are more complicated as the dreams offer up more questions than answers.
James is hurt and confused but presents herself through an honest facade. She’s not quite sure why she ended the relationship with Damon, but she is also eager to step into her own light. In this confusion, her relationships with others can take a slight hit. Though she comes off strong and well placed together, James has some insecurities of her own to combat.
In some scenes, James’s usual quirky, direct nature turns more destructive. For instance, James takes out her frustrations on one of her beloved students who would rather go on a trip to Six Flags with her father, than attend a writing workshop. James takes this rather personally and snaps at the student. To the audience, this could be explained because James currently awaits her big moment and needs her students to be as inspired as herself. As the film carries on, James apologizes for this outburst.
James juggles this direct but vulnerable nature throughout the movie — showing the human condition as honest as it can be. When Boone asks James out in one scene, she specifies their hang out had to be in her neighborhood. On their first date, James is honest about her lack of interest in him, then completely forgets his existence in another when he calls her. But Boone admires her personality and Williams shows the audience the world can make space for brutal honesty. Throughout the film, while James and Boone bond with one another, they maintain open communication about missing and even stalking their exes. Whereas in reality we are told to keep such a topic at bay from interests like Boone, Williams shows audiences there isn’t anything to fear.
Thank you London and @sundanceorg for showing The Incredible Jessica James! This was an incredible experience. Wowowowow! I'm wearing 1 1/2 to 2 inch heels so this is a very intense situation for me!June 3, 2017
“The Incredible Jessica James” is laced with feminist commentary and imagery, open about the needs of women physically and emotionally, and presents the truth that sometimes people meet each other, and really, it could just be as simple as that.
The film ends with James boarding a flight, on her way to chase her dreams after a breakthrough in one of her works. Boone pays for the plane tickets for James, her friend, and her beloved student through his “frequent flyer miles.” In that same scene, James rejects the title of boyfriend for Boone, feeling comfortable and content enough to simply call him a friend — for now anyways.
For Palette, “The Incredible Jessica James” averts the male-centric gaze romantic comedies have long held and approaches the middle ground of post-relationship blues with a direct calmness and chaotic good. James could be seen as the villain in her own story, but she really doesn’t care. In the end, she achieves a new career goal and gains a trusty, lovable friend in the process.
Have you seen it? Let us know: #PaletteTunesIn
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