Ingrid Goes West

Aubrey Plaza Goes Wild in Ingrid Goes West

Matt Spicer's Ingrid Goes West is a competent first feature that rises above the limitations of its scenario. Ingrid is introduced crashing the wedding of a woman she has been following on social media. Enraged that she hasn't been invited to the ceremony, Ingrid, lovingly embodied by Aubrey Plaza, proceeds to mace the bride. After a short stint at a mental health facility, Ingrid becomes enamored with another social media darling, Taylor Sloane, a SoCal interior designer who Ingrid starts to stalk. Though Ingrid is able to ingratiate herself with her new obsession, things deteriorate and a pattern is repeated. Since this is a black comedy, Ingrid's psychological problems are not seriously explored and "social media" is the Snidely Whiplash.

This dark farce, more awkward than humorous as in almost all 21st Century American Indie comedies, would be not worth more than a passing thought were it not for Spicer's framing and gift for characterization. Each character is given more depth than in most farces and Spicer ably captures the boho vibe of Silver Lake and Joshua Tree. Elizabeth Olsen is fine as the Tory Burch like designer, but it is O'Shea Jackson Jr. who really shines as Ingrid's landlord and eventual boyfriend, Dan. Jackson is relaxed and centered, sharing a winning rapport with Ms. Plaza. It is significant that the first intimate scene between the two involves erotic role playing of Dan's Batman fantasies. Spicer is portraying young Americans who don't have fixed identities, but are playing with different personas. Often, they latch onto comics, games and the like to help present a hip mask to society. This is an acute capturing of the zeitgeist in the era of Facebook friends and Instagram identities.

I must offer a palm frond for Ms. Plaza. She has provided needed fizz in a host of films and TV shows; some not worthy of her talent. In an earlier era, the sass and vinegar Ms. Plaza displays would have made her a second banana, much like Eve Arden or Celeste Holm. That Ms. Plaza has risen above character actress roles may be indicative of some small progress in filmdom. Ms. Plaza has provided me with much enjoyment this century and I eagerly await her barbed delivery in the next season of Legion. (1/16/18)