While Aubrey Plaza and Jake Johnson both starred in the comedy anthology-series Easy, some fans may not know that the pair also appeared together in an indie sci-fi movie back in 2012. Directed by Colin Trevorrow, Safety Not Guaranteed focuses on a group of journalists who are attempting to track down a time traveler. However, in its appealing comedy, Safety Not Guaranteed provides a welcoming twist on the well-versed topic of time-travel.
Both Plaza and Johnson received widespread acclaim for their performances in Safety Not Guaranteed, which makes the movie an unmissable hit for any sci-fi fans. Trevorrow’s 2012 comedic take on the sci-fi genre is an unexpected feel-good watch, which stems from bizarre real-life influences.
What Is Safety Not Guaranteed About?
Jake Johnson’s character, Jeff Schwensen, is a journalist working at Seattle Magazine. The movie focuses on an investigation into a bizarre newspaper advertisement, which reads: “Wanted: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. P.O. Box 91 Ocean View, WA 99393. You'll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. I have only done this once before. Safety not guaranteed.”
In an attempt to track down the writer of this strange advertisement, Jeff picks a team of interns to travel with him to Ocean View. Aubrey Plaza’s character, Darius Britt, is chosen to help Jeff with his investigation. However, as the mystery unfolds, it’s evident that Darius is much more involved in this investigation than Jeff, who has other motivations for traveling to Ocean View. Despite its run-time of just over 80 minutes, Safety Not Guaranteed is a jam-packed adventure. It creates a perfect mixture of time travel and comedy, making it a must-watch for any sci-fi fan who fancies something a little bit different.
The movie’s premise was actually inspired by a real-life phenomenon. In 1997, Backwoods Home Magazine published an advertisement that was copied almost word-for-word in the film:
“Wanted: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. P.O. Box 322 Oakview, CA 93022. You'll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before.”
Although the advertisement was published as a joke by the Magazine’s Senior Editor, it still received thousands of responses. The advertisement quickly became a cultural phenomenon and was featured as a topic on multiple talk shows. Following its popularity, the advertisement simply became known as the ‘Safety Not Guaranteed’ ad. Due to its humor and wackiness, Colin Trevorrow was inspired to turn the ‘Safety Not Guaranteed’ ad into a movie. Upon its release, Safety Not Guaranteed became a critical and commercial success.
What Does Safety Not Guaranteed Score on Rotten Tomatoes?
Safety Not Guaranteed currently has an impressive score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an audience score of 80%. It’s been over eleven years since Safety Not Guarantee’s release, but it’s still receiving positive feedback from those discovering the movie for the first time.
Alongside Aubrey Plaza and Jake Johnson, the movie also stars Mark Duplass, Karan Soni, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Kristen Bell. Safety Not Guaranteed has received acclaim for its impressive cast, who have all been praised for their strong performances. In typical April Ludgate fashion, Plaza does not fail to deliver her classic deadpan style, while Johnson does not disappoint with his renowned comedic delivery. Although the pair are now established Hollywood stars, it’s interesting to see them both feature in this quirky sci-fi comedy back in 2012, which was Plaza’s first leading role in a movie. Hopefully the movie’s continued popularity will pave the way for Plaza and Johnson to star in more projects together in the future.
What Are Aubrey Plaza’s Other Roles?
Aubrey Plaza is most known for her role as the deadpan intern April Ludgate in the sitcom Parks and Recreation, which ran from 2009-2015. Plaza’s role in Parks and Recreation earned her widespread recognition, and she was praised for her comedic performance.
Audiences will also recognize Plaza for her role in the beloved comedy Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, in which she played the foul-mouthed Julie Powers. To the excitement of many fans, Plaza is set to reprise her role as Julie in the upcoming animated series, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, which is due to be released on Netflix next month. Many Marvel fans are also anticipating Plaza’s arrival to the MCU, in which she is set to star in the upcoming miniseries, Agatha: Darkhold Diaries.
Plaza is also renowned for her recent role in the second season of the esteemed dark-comedy drama, The White Lotus. Following the release of season two, Plaza received widespread acclaim for her role as Harper Spiller, and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.
Plaza has also produced and starred in a number of movies, including the 2017 black comedy The Little Hours, and the 2017 thriller Ingrid Goes West. It goes without saying that Plaza is a household name with an impressive filmography. This year, Time Magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
What Are Jake Johnson’s Other Roles?
Jake Johnson is most known for his role as the lovable Nick Miller in the sitcom New Girl, which ran from 2011-2018. Johnson’s role in the popular sitcom established the actor’s role in comedy and made him an instantly recognizable face.
In 2015, Johnson joined the cast of Bojack Horseman, the dark-comedy animated drama. Johnson voiced Oxnard, a series regular who is constantly dragged away from his family to help with Todd and Mr. Peanutbutter’s ridiculous business schemes. Also in 2015, Johnson starred in Jurassic World as Lowery Cruthers, a loyal employee at the Jurassic World theme park.
Johnson is also renowned for his role in the hugely esteemed animated movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Johnson voiced the character Peter B. Parker, one of Spider-Man’s many variants and Miles Morales’ reluctant ‘mentor.’ To fans’ delight, Johnson reprized his role as Spider-Man in the movie’s 2023 sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. While it’s yet to be confirmed, fans are hoping that Johnson will also appear in Across the Spider-Verse’s second part, Beyond the Spider-Verse, which is currently in post-production. Both Johnson and Plaza are now hugely established actors, so it’s interesting to see them both star together in Safety Not Guaranteed so early in their careers.