Palm Springs.

Now on Amazon Prime Video.

Directed by Max Barbakow with a screenplay by Andy Siara, Palm Springs is an update on the “stuck in a time loop” story.

Andy Samberg is Niles, a guest at the wedding of his girlfriends friend. He seems less than thrilled to be there, dressed in swim shorts, drinking beers from a can. Then he surprises everyone with a beautiful speech celebrating the happy couple before navigating his way smartly over the dance floor and meeting sister of the bride Sarah (Christin Milioti) who also appears less than thrilled to be there. After an evening with Niles and an arrow incident, she follows Niles into a cave. When she wakes in her hotel to her shock she finds herself joining Niles in a time loop nightmare.

While there are inevitable comparisons with Groundhog Day, this is a very different film, much darker at times (especially if you start to think about just how long Niles has been stuck) but we also get a different dynamic with multiple characters experiencing their own loops.

Palm Springs is a smart comedy and has fun with both the gags that come from people knowing exactly how their day will play out as well as what happens when your actions have no consequences. But it also cleverly asks other questions of those same scenarios, what if nothing you do matters? How do you deal with your actions having no consequences on others but you still have to live with them?

We also find Niles actions have had consequences with J.K Simmons’s Ray, who Niles brought into his loop during a night partying together. It’s those relationships that gives this a freshness, as we see how the loop affects all involved very differently.

It also cleverly leaves ambiguity in the character back stories to allow you to fill in your own interpretation on how they got there and what may happen to them.

I’ve seen lots of really positive reviews of Palm Springs and while I’m not as bowled over as some it is a warm hearted take on the Groundhog Day idea asking some interesting questions along the way. Exploring how life can seem meaningless and subsequently full of meaning if you take a minute to appreciate what is there for you and how it can be better with people to share it with.

Palm Springs is an intelligent enjoyable comedy, which does have a dark side, but ultimately one with a positive message that puts a smile on your face.