'Save Yourselves!' is an intriguing and exciting film that combines comedy and fantasy, retelling the tale of a couple from Brooklyn, Su and Jack, who are retreating to a friends cabin in the countryside, seeking to disconnect from their devices and inadvertently do this during an alien invasion. Unbeknownst to them small, fuzzy, ball-shaped creatures start taking over earth, driven by the consumption of ethanol whilst the pair seek ways to become better people and grow closer as a couple.
The film presents Su and Jack, as a millennial couple, seemingly tired of their current way of life, and take advantage when their friend offers them to make use of his property in the woods. Su and Jack take this as an opportunity for personal development, discussing the possibility of becoming vegetarian, developing a community garden and becoming closer through various exercises and personal revelations.
The pair set off for a week away from their phones and computers, leaving a voicemail explaning the situation. They spend time together discussing personal concerns and the things they aspire to better themselves through. After an argument, Su breaks their pact not to use their phones, and hears various disturbing voice messages from her mother, informing her of creatures taking over New York. As this comes to light, the couple use their phones to gather as much information as possible, even though the network is down at this point.
After realising the severity of the situation, and that an alien fuzz-ball is near the cabin, the two scramble to escape from the property. Making use of a diesel fuelled truck they find in the barn near the cabin, the two set off for the shore, where Jacks mother had informed them of her whereabouts.
Along the way, Su and Jack stop and witness a fuzz-ball attack on another couple fleeing from the aliens. As the two strangers are taken out, the two realise they were travelling with a baby. As they stop to check on it, they are hijacked by a woman hiding in the back of the victims truck. Left in the middle of nowhere and with an infant, Su and Jack also have to deal with being intoxicated due to a fuzz-ball spritzing the pair with a suspicious substance. Eventually, the two come across a mysterious crystal structure in the woods. Realising their phones now have reception, the two are enveloped by the onslaught of messages they have accumulated and fail to notice the structure developing into a bubble around them. Soon, the bubble ascends with the trio inside, and rises to the sky. Rising through the atmosphere the two speculate on the situation, optimistically guessing that they are being rescued, slowly realising the situation may not be as such, as the film cuts to black.
Through its runtime, the film maintains a very upbeat and comedic tempo, touching on various issues ranging from millennial culture, the definition of masculinity and the culture surrounding the green lifestyle. The movie is very aware of its two protagonists and their behaviour, as they are individuals in their mid to late twenties and are experiencing what most people do - being scared of missing out on adventures in their life and succumbing to a stagnant way of life.
'Save Yourselves!' does not shy away from poking fun at how people attempt to drastically change their lives in order to rediscover themselves and to find joy. However, as Su and Jack try to distance themselves from modern technology in order to find the simple joys in life, their attempts are thwarted by their reliance on technology and the realisation that the pair have very little to no idea how to survive in the real world. Through a revealing monologue, Jack opens up to Su about having not wanted to become like his father - a "mans' man", yet realises that he has also not mastered becoming a modern man in terms of being more open, patient and able to listen to his partner. The film serves well as commentary on how nowadays people try to adapt to a more progressive lifestyle, being more open-minded and embracing a green and sustainable lifestyle, yet are failing to do so. Even although it is a sarcastic remark on modern society, 'Save Yourselves!' manages to drive the message home through endless quips, maintaining a light comedic tone and a fun energy throughout the film.
Besides reliance, and perhaps to an extent an addiction to technology, the film also addresses the general attitude that can be picked up on in the current cultural zeitgeist, namely living for the moment, gathering experiences and cultivating an image of a well travelled individual. The film contrasts this approach to life with the pair coming across the baby and being forced to take care of him. As the two are confronted with having to deal with the responsibility that is a child, the film exposes the millennial unwillingness to follow in the preceding generations way of life, - to settle down and commit to forming a family at a certain age. Additionally, the drug experience Su and Jack have highlights the approach to life twenty-something year olds have now - that is to live in the current moment, not caring too much about forming lasting commitments or bonds.
Sunita Mani and John Paul Reynolds portray Su and Jack respectively, and deliver an excellent reflection of a tight-knit couple with great chemistry. Mani and Reynolds convey the feeling of a comfortable and lived-in relationship, where the pair are contented with each other, unafraid to reveal their worst sides and traits to each other. Mani and Reynolds have been perfectly cast for the roles of Su and Jack as they manage to individually provide great performances and are amazing together on screen, supplementing and enhancing each others acting rather than trying to outshine one another comedically.
The film is written and directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, and the pair have managed to deliver a very unique alien invasion film. As it often is with science fiction, the subject matter of the story closely reflects a social issue that the creators of a film would like to comment on. Here, Fischer and Wilson have managed to address millennial culture and the shortcomings of that type of lifestyle, whilst keeping the film light-hearted and with a humorous spirit. Without going over the top to highlight the downsides to drastic lifestyle changes and the ineptitude of certain individuals inability regarding practical and real-life skills, 'Save Yourselves!' is enjoyable through and through, providing continuous laughs and presenting moments of introspection that facilitate deeper contemplation towards the modern way of life after the film has concluded.
Score: 3/4
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