Quentin (Nat Wolff) has been in love with the girl from across the street, Margo (Cara Delevingne), since they were in primary school. The only trouble is, she doesn’t feel the same way about him.
The two were virtually inseparable friends for several years, but as they got older, they drifted apart somewhat, and now barely even speak to each other.
That is, until one night, when Margo takes Quentin out for a night that will change his life. She needs his help to exact her own brand of revenge on several people she believes have wronged her in one way or another.
He agrees, and is off on an adventure of a lifetime. The two of them share an adrenaline-fueled night together, driving all over town, punishing other teens whom Margo bears grudges against. It seems that the two of them are becoming close again, and Quentin believes that she has finally come around after all.
But the next day, she disappears virtually without a trace.
Following a series of what he believes are clues Margo has left as to her whereabouts, he sets off on a road trip across the country with his two best friends, Ben (Austin Abrams) and Radar (Justice Smith), along with Radar’s girlfriend Angela (Jaz Sinclair) and Margo’s best friend Lacey (Halston Sage).
Enough of the plot, let’s get to the meaty part of the review.
I can’t really offer any comment on the quality of the adaptation (script by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber), as I have not read the novel on which it is based. The script seems well-crafted and fast-paced throughout, though I am unsure how much of this is present in the novel as well.
The performances by most of the cast (including a cameo by Jay Duplass) are first-class. However, I never really felt anything for Cara Delevingne’s character. She doesn’t seem at all likeable to me, and her performance as an actor leaves a lot to be desired. Of course, acting requires a lot more than looking in the right direction and saying the right lines, which sadly seems to be all Delevingne is capable of, at least in this film.
The production design (by Chris Spellman) is superb, setting the scene(s) very well, and conveying so much with, in many cases, so little.
I found the score by Ryan Lott moderately enjoyable. It’s nothing special, but at the same time, it’s not bad, either.
This film is beautifully shot by cinematographer David Lanzenberg; every shot is virtually perfect, even in the scenes with a much faster pace, nothing is missing from the frame. The use of light and dark (a big part of good cinematography) is very good here. There is a lot of strength in every single shot.
Director Jake Schreier has created a relatively enjoyable mystery story, suitable to be watched at least once. Fans of the book may enjoy watching it again and again, but for myself, a single viewing is enough.
6 out of 10.
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