Palm Springs

Palm Springs is one of those rom-coms that sneaks up on you. When I first heard it was “another time loop movie,” I didn’t expect much, but wow, did it prove me wrong. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti have a kind of messy, believable chemistry that makes their characters’ existential dread somehow hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. The setup is familiar—a guy stuck reliving the same wedding day—but the way it plays with repetition feels fresh, mixing nihilism and romance in a way that’s way funnier (and more touching) than it should be.

The film’s humor is dry and self-aware. There’s a scene involving a perfectly choreographed dance around the wedding guests that cracked me up, mostly because it was so unexpected and offbeat. But underneath the deadpan jokes, there are moments of real vulnerability. Both leads get to play people who are genuinely broken, which is rare for this kind of movie. Watching them navigate boredom, despair, and then suddenly care about something again felt surprisingly real.

Cinematography isn’t exactly flashy here, but it works. There’s this warmth to the color palette that keeps things from sliding into full-on bleakness, especially with all the desert shots. It’s not the sun-drenched Instagram filter you’d expect—there’s a gentleness that keeps the bizarre premise grounded. That said, the movie sort of visually blends in near the middle, and it only really pops during the wildest set pieces.

If there’s a flaw, it’s that the last act speeds through some crucial emotional changes. The film spends so much time basking in the absurdity of its premise that the emotional payoff can feel a bit rushed. I wanted just a little longer to sit in the vulnerability, instead of switching into resolution mode so quickly. But I never felt bored. The pacing overall is tight and rarely drags.

Supporting performances deserve a quick shout-out, especially J.K. Simmons, who is both menacing and weirdly endearing. His subplot adds a jolt of energy when the story risks getting a little repetitive. Honestly, if the movie didn’t have such a strong cast across the board, it probably wouldn’t have worked nearly as well.

Palm Springs isn’t perfect, but it’s the rare romantic comedy that actually explores what it means to feel stuck, to want to move forward, and to find someone who makes you want to try. It’s weird, sweet, and a little cynical in all the right ways.