Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti make magic in Palm Springs

Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti are a match made in time-loop heaven in Max Barbakow’s Palm Springs, a fresh and endlessly charming take on the Groundhog Day paradox.

Unlikely as it may seem, the “stuck in a time-loop” premise has somehow become an overpopulated genre. Between the original Groundhog Day, sci-fi takes like Edge of Tomorrow, horror flicks like Happy Death Day, and television comedies like Russian Doll, time-loop movies and shows are hardly in short supply, so going into Palm Springs, we were wondering how the Hulu release would set itself apart from the rest of the pack.

An uproarious and heartfelt hour and a half later, and we’re thoroughly convinced that Palm Springs is one of the best (if not the all-time best) time-loop movies out there, not to mention one of the best films of 2020. Taking place at a picture-perfect wedding in the titular Palm Springs, the film follows Sarah (Cristin Milioti) and Nyles (Andy Samberg) as they attempt to come to terms with (and eventually escape from) an endless time-loop induced by a mysterious cave in the desert.

As we mentioned earlier, the premise is hardly anything groundbreaking, but that doesn’t quite matter, because Palm Springs just gets everything right. The film is first and foremost propelled effortlessly by Andy Siara’s witty and heartfelt script. The movie clocks in at an hour and a half, and never overstays its welcome or attempts to be more than it is: a nihilistic yet sweet and self-aware romantic comedy. The pacing is impeccable; every scene fits neatly within the narrative, and the balance between romance, comedy, and hints of science-fiction is always spot-on.

The succesfulness of the tone (aside from Siara’s script and Barbakow’s sharp direction) is also due in major part to the utterly perfect cast, lead by Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. Let’s be honest, Andy Samberg’s comedic talents have never been in question. Between Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Lonely Island, and the criminally underrated Popstar, Samberg has always had a wicked sense of humor and an inherent magic in his delivery, but his performance in Palm Springs shows us another side of him that we’ve never really seen before: a serious, dramatic one.

Of course, Palm Springs is hardly a downer (in the end it’s actually quite the opposite), but Samberg’s character Nyles is a true nihilist and spends quite a bit of the runtime waxing on about how little everything matters. Although there’s a veil of comedy over it all, we get glimpses of Nyles at his lowest, most despondent moments, and Samberg more than sells the pain and loneliness of a man trapped and alone living the same day over and over.

It probably also heps that his co-star, Cristin Milioti, is equally as fantastic. Her Sarah is just as dry-humored (if not moreso), but she also brings the beating emotional heart of the film, and elevates the material with her all-too-believable performance. Milioti, who we know best as the lead of Black Mirror‘s Star Trek parody “USS Callister” should be cast in anything and everything, because after seeing her in Palm Springs we’re convinced that she can do no wrong.

Together Samberg and Milioti are an unstoppable duo — pathetic and at times morally dubious, yes, but also incredibly charming and sweet to watch as they grow from drunken strangers moaning and groaning about their scenario to two souls realizing they’re in love. Their chemistry is pitch-perfect, both in terms of romance and comedy. All of their interactions just work, and they have the kind of comedic timing and ease with each other that makes it seem like they’re a duo who really have known each other for eternity.

The rest of the cast fills out strongly as well. J.K. Simmons is the most notable addition. He plays a vengeful father named Roy who (spoiler alert) hunts Myles after he was inadvertently dragged into the time-loop. When we first met him, we thought he’d be some kind of violent caricature, but his heart-to-heart with Nyles near the film’s climax is so genuine and vulnerable we can’t help but care for the guy, even if he does love murdering people with crossbows. His best moment is undoubtedly the film’s mid-credits scene, which we won’t spoil here because it’s that damn good.

Tyler Hoechlin (who we know as the ever-stoic and sexy Derrick on Teen Wolf) is also refreshingly hilarious. After seeing him shirtless and scowling for so long, it’s kind of amazing to watch him bust out some great comedic timing. Camila Mendes (of Riverdale fame) plays the bride-to-be and Sarah’s sister Tala, and is incredibly easy to picture as the generous soul Sarah describes her as in her maid-of-honor speech.

We honestly can’t say enough good things about Palm Springs. Every element just blends so seamlessly that it creates an airtight, grin-inducing hour and a half of comedy, romance, and time travel that will from now on be our go-to feel-good movie.

Have you seen Palm Springs? What’s your favorite movie about time loops? Sound off in the comments below.