Skip to main content
Home The New Paper
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team

Popular

  • COURT & CRIME
  • Food & Drink
Movies

Movie review: On The Rocks

Movie review: On The Rocks
Rashida Jones and Bill Murray play a daughter and a father who draw closer in On The Rocks. PHOTO: APPLE TV+
Jeanmarie Tan
Entertainment Editor
Oct 07, 2020 06:00 am
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • 0 Engagements

On The Rocks is by no means a big-budget mainstream movie like Tenet, Greenland and Unhinged, which enjoyed theatrical releases in Singapore first before their wider roll-outs in the US amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

This Apple-A24 production is slated to have its global premiere on streaming platform Apple TV+ on Oct 23.

But local audiences can catch it from Oct 9 exclusively at The Projector, which scored a coup by being one of the selected cinemas worldwide to secure the rights to screen it within a limited theatrical window.

HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED

The highly-anticipated indie marks the cinematic reunion of writer-director Sofia Coppola and actor Bill Murray after 2003's Lost In Translation, and for her, this project follows 2017's The Beguiled.

While ostensibly about a marriage rocked by building mistrust and miscommunication, the dramedy is actually more interested in presenting a character study of a father and daughter drawing closer - and eventually, uncomfortably close - during their screwball stakeouts, by using their opposing views on infidelity to get to the crux of their unresolved relationship.

Rashida Jones has always been criminally underrated, but in this, Coppola gives her a nice little vehicle.

Netflix unveils 2021 slate of 70 star-studded movies
Movies

Netflix unveils 2021 slate of 70 star-packed movies

Jan 14, 2021

Related Stories

Marvel superheroes return in quirky retro sitcom WandaVision

Movie Review: Locked Down

Movie review: Pieces Of A Woman

Even mundane scenes of her daily routine are drawn out, which can get borderline boring.

As expected, the star of the show is Murray as her wealthy, well-connected and incorrigibly flirtatious dad who can't help but hit on every woman he sees.

Such behaviour would be beyond creepy, sleazy and offensive under normal circumstances, yet this silver fox comes across as strangely charming.

Who knew Murray had it in him at 70 years old?

Expect to also have a giggle every time he pulls out a politically incorrect anecdote to educate Jones on why men can't stay monogamous.

Jones and Murray are the real couple we care about in On The Rocks, while Marlon Wayans as the woefully underwritten spouse is more like a third wheel.

But it's not always hearts and flowers, especially when daddy dearest's baggage spilleth over and we find out how his longtime philandering wrecked their family.

On The Rocks is not always a smooth ride.

It can be a struggle to take in, with flawed characters, uneven pacing and a simple story that doesn't quite amount to much and leaves you feeling slightly empty.

One wishes there was more depth and heft, but it still deserves a chance. - 3 Ticks


FILM: On The Rocks

STARRING: Rashida Jones, Bill Murray, Marlon Wayans, Jessica Henwick

WRITER-DIRECTOR: Sofia Coppola

THE SKINNY: A mother (Jones) faced with sudden doubts about her marriage mistakenly teams up with her larger-than-life playboy father (Murray) to tail her suspicious husband (Wayans), who may or may not be having an affair with his sexy colleague (Henwick).

RATING: PG13

Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now

Movies

Jeanmarie Tan

Entertainment Editor
jeanm@sph.com.sg
Read articles by Jeanmarie Tan
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • Newslink -  Purchase this article for republication

Top Stories this Month

Covid-19 vaccination centres to be opened soon
Singapore

Singapore set to open Covid-19 vaccination centres

Jan 12, 2021
Family of girl raped, killed in 1995 appeal for help with case
Singapore

Family of girl raped, killed in 1995 appeal for help with case

Jan 11, 2021
Fear and frustration for maids, employers amid the pandemic
Singapore

Fear and frustration for maids, employers amid the pandemic

Jan 11, 2021
Home
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contact TNP
  • About SPH
  • Privacy Statement
  • Data Protection Policy
  • Member Terms & Conditions
  • Website Terms & Conditions
SPH Digital News Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn No. 198402868E