Filmmaker Joe Swanberg, one of the founding fathers of Mumblecore, is back with another examination of love, sex, and relationships. In The Sun Never Sets, Swanberg and his wonderful cast present a story and characters whose romantic entanglements drive them mad and push them to do extreme things. Though the movie is labeled a drama, I often found myself laughing, but these characters also exasperated and frustrated me. Finally, I also felt a bit seen and embarrassed, as I realized that I, too, have been guilty of some of this ridiculousness.
In a small coastal area of Alaska, where the sun never sets, Wendy (Dakota Fanning) works a blue-collar job operating bulldozers and digging machines. She has been involved in a committed relationship with Jack (Jake Johnson), a divorced father who has no plans whatsoever to remarry or have more children with Wendy. Though Wendy has accepted his terms, Jack senses that Wendy desires a marriage and children of her own. These qualms lead Jack to propose a temporary break in their relationship so Wendy can sort out whether she can do without these one-time wishes.
Wendy reluctantly agrees, but eventually does. Enter Chuck (Cory Michael Smith), Wendy’s ex-boyfriend who has been away for some time after he and Wendy break up. Newly “single” and attempting to mingle, Wendy rekindles a romantic and sexual relationship with him, but this is much to the consternation of Jack, who did not anticipate such a quick turnaround. This further complicates everyone’s relationships, as jealousy and fear of missing out cause all parties to behave poorly and insanely.
What I like most about Swanberg’s films is that they feel natural, organic, and realistic. Swanberg lays down a solid foundation with his scripts, but it remains resilient and malleable for his actors, giving them room to improvise and create naturally real moments. Though this particular story does not offer audiences anything exceptionally new, it is still a fun and fascinating slice-of-life film. It doesn’t beg to be experienced on the big screen, and you can enjoy it in the comfort of your home.
I enjoyed the lead cast members tremendously, as everyone plays their roles well. Both Jake Johnson and Dakota Fanning deliver outstanding performances that walk the fine line between comedy and drama. Sometimes they lean more into comedy, while other times, they lean toward the other side, especially when their characters’ behavior gets frustrating and maddening. I enjoyed Cory Michael Smith in this movie, but I feel his character was lacking something.
Warts and all, I highly recommend The Sun Never Sets, but I wouldn’t rush out to the cinema to watch it. It is a perfectly fine movie to enjoy for a date night at home.