Sure J.K. Simmons Was Brilliant in ‘Whiplash,’ but He Might Have Been Better in This Wild Sci-Fi Dramedy on Hulu
It is easy to forget that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there were legitimate concerns as to whether or not the film industry would ever be able to recover. With many theaters being closed and productions forced to halt halfway through filming, audiences were in desperate need of a sense of escapism that spoke to the uncomfortable feelings of having to repeat the same things over and over again. Thankfully, that relief came in the form of Palm Springs, a hilarious science fiction comedy that revitalized the Groundhog Day formula to examine the struggles of an infinite vacation. Although there are many components of the film that are worthy of praise, Palm Springs became a lot more intense and hilarious as a result of the scene-stealing supporting role from J.K. Simmons.
Who Does J.K. Simmons Play in ‘Palm Springs’?
Palm Springs follows the bridesmaid Sarah Wilder (Cristin Milioti), who wakes up depressed on the morning of the wedding of her sister, Tala (Camila Mendes), in California. After sharing an encounter with the idiosyncratic womanizer Nyles (Andy Samberg), Sarah realizes that they are trapped in a time loop in which they return to the beginning of the morning after the day passes or they are killed; although he has been looking for an escape, Nyles has been stuck in the loop and grown dispirited. Simons co-stars as the enigmatic villain Roy, who is obsessed with hunting down and killing Nyles in an act of revenge. It is revealed that Roy was trapped in the same loop as a result of Nyles and is desperate to return back to reality.
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“My ex-wife still misses me, but her aim is getting better!”
Simmons is able to make Roy an intimidating villain who does not drag down the tone of the film, as the fact that none of the main characters can actually “die” means that the threat that he poses is minimal. In fact, the film does find many creative methods for Roy to dispatch with Nyles, including a very memorable scene involving a bow and arrow. In addition to adding a component of suspense to a film that is otherwise rather comedic, Simmons also serves as a reminder of the real stakes of the story. Nyles’ affection for Sarah makes much more sense when she realizes that previously, he had only had a force of constant negativity that was also in the loop with him. Roy also serves an important point in humanizing Nyles; while there was the potential that Nyles’ sardonic, freewheeling attitude could have been grating had it never been questioned, Roy serves as a living reminder that his actions have consequences.
Roy Is the Heart of ‘Palm Springs’
Roy’s storyline is critical to the message of Palm Springs because he has a completely different goal from Nyles and Sarah. Both Nyles and Sarah want a reprieve from their normal responsibilities, as they both feel a tremendous amount of guilt for the perceived mistakes that they have made; comparatively, Roy has a very happy family life and grows very sad that he is being robbed of the opportunity to grow old with his wife and watch his children grow up. While both Nyles and Sarah are terrified of the commitments that come with a long-term relationship, Roy shows them that there is something profound about placing trust in someone else and heading towards an uncertain future. It’s thanks to the powerful moments with Roy that Sarah and Nyles are motivated to find a way out of the loop, creating a very exciting third act.
Simmons had a very challenging role in Palm Springs, as he had to make the transition from being a villain to being an odd sort of mentor. Despite how believable he is as a crazed antagonist who tracks down Nyles within the opening scenes, the sequence in which the two men make peace is easily the most affecting moment of the film and certainly what elevates it into something more than just another slapstick comedy. The terrific chemistry between Samberg and Miloti may have been what turned Palm Springs into a word-of-mouth sensation, but Simmons was the film’s greatest scene-stealer.
