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TV Takes: A trip to ‘Palm Springs’ is worth it

Hulu's new movie starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti delivers.
 
TV Takes illustration
TV Takes illustration [ LISA MERKLIN | Times ]
Published July 17, 2020

Name of movie: Palm Springs

When it debuted: July 10, 2020

Where you can watch it: Hulu

What’s it about: This rom-com stars Andy Samberg as goofball Nyles, who’s stuck in a depressing one-day time loop at an outdoor desert wedding in Palm Springs. And immediately, in the era of COVID-19, we can all relate. Nyles sees his girlfriend, one of the bridesmaids, cheating on him at the reception, then gets to wake up every day and experience the indignity again and again. Nyles connects with the maid of honor Sarah, played by Cristin Milioti, and accidentally draws her into his vortex. They spend most of the 90-minute running time trying to figure it all out. J.K. Simmons (is he in everything?) plays Roy, also frozen in time thanks to Nyles, and even less appreciative about the whole shebang.

Is it worth watching? Not a new premise. But Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) is fun to watch, in the moment, and yesterday, and tomorrow. He shares genuine chemistry with Milioti (How I Met Your Mother, Fargo Season 2). Samberg shines as the brooding, quirky Nyles, but Milioti turns in a star performance. They test the limits of time loops, where days start the same but can end any number of ways, some more awful than others. In between, there are road trips and beers. Pool floats and beers. Gross matching tattoos and more booze. Palm Springs has its juvenile and cringe-worthy moments. But it’s a dry desert heat. And you will laugh a lot. Any time a movie leaves you smiling broadly as the final credits roll, it’s worth reliving.