Review: The Intervention

It may not break any new ground but The Intervention, actress Clea DuVall's directorial debut, is a well-accomplished outing that keeps its head well above the cliched waters of its genre.

The film is essentially divided into three acts - gathering, confrontation and reconciliation - and though there is a certain predictability to one or more of these acts, they often surprise along the way. A group of thirtysomethings have gathered at a beautiful family summer residence outside of Savannah. The reunion has been orchestrated by Annie (Melanie Lynskey), affianced to the mild and understanding Matt (Jason Ritter) and sister to Jessie (DuVall), who has arrived from Los Angeles with her long-term but not live-in girlfriend Sarah (Natasha Lyonne). Reluctantly in attendance is Jack (Ben Schwartz), their recently single friend who ruffles Annie's feathers by bringing his 22-year-old "baby stranger" Lola (Alia Shawkat).

The purpose of the assembly is to confront a fourth couple - Annie and Jessie's sister Ruby (Cobie Smulders) and her husband Peter (Vincent Piazza) - about their toxic relationship. Annie's intent is not to save their marriage, but to convince them to dissolve it once and for all. One can understand Annie's concern - observing Ruby and Peter's curdled exchanges, it's hard to believe why they've remained married much less got together in the first place. Most of the crew have concerns about broaching the topic to Ruby and Peter, but most have bended to her will. Ben is the only naysayer - it's none of their business, he insists - but is overruled by Annie.

Unsurprisingly, the weekend is rife with awkwardness, from Annie's embarrassing drunkenness to Lola's not-so-subtle come-ons to Jessie, who's had a reputation for liking younger women in the past, to the deeply uncomfortable digs between Ruby and Peter. Yet DuVall balances the darker aspects of the material with levity and insight. Annie's drinking is made amusing by Lynskey's delightfully pixilated portrayal, but it clearly masks her own hesitancy about her impending marriage. Lola's tempting presence bring Sarah's insecurities about her relationship with Jessie to the fore. Jessie admits to Ruby that she is a little bored with her relationship; Ruby responds that she wishes she had the time to be bored. Ruby and Peter's amazing turn at charades demonstrate that there may be something left to salvage.

DuVall displays a confidence not just with guiding her actors but with favouring emotional directness over easy frippery. The climactic speeches firmly hit their high notes without necessarily calling too much attention on themselves, and are delivered with such conviction that they don't become eye-rolling and cringeworthy. The cast are uniformly excellent, with Lynskey and Smulders especial standouts.

The Intervention

Directed by: Clea DuVall

Written by: Clea DuVall

Starring: Clea DuVall, Melanie Lynskey, Natasha Lyonne, Vincent Piazza, Jason Ritter, Ben Schwartz, Alia Shawkat, Cobie Smulders