When old and close friends are gathered together for an important occasion in an unusual location, chaos, intrigue and revelations are bound to be happen. Jess Plus None has exactly the right mix and perfectly uncomfortable setting; a wedding in the woods involving camping, to create a romantic comedy that follows the same genre beats but has an entertaining group of characters that gives the film a boost above ordinary.
Despite Jess being named in the title, this story is not just about her and her self-destructive love life, though she does come across as someone with main character syndrome. Choosing to attend her best friend's wedding alone, without the guy she is dating, seems like a bold choice. But she is still in love and obsessed with her ex, Sam, who is the best woman. Like Sam, everyone else has not quite let go of how she ended this relationship, a feeling that echoes passive-aggressively around the camp. Jess aside, her friends are all each having their own relationship problems, which both painfully amusing and relatable.
The expectations and predictions of how each couple resolves their issues is played out as expected in a rom-com genre film. But it is these moments, that are far more realistic, that stay with you, in particularly when Jess finally talks with Sam alone and naively believes they can pick up where they left off. The confusion and devastation on her face says it all. We also finally find out what actually happened to this one-time perfectly happy couple. There are smaller moments and running jokes that add a spark to the story such as the repeated comment that ‘no one fucks Brian', the bride's brother. Even Jess's own little adventure into the woods where she meets the enigmatic ranger on a vision quest is a strange step away literally from reality and is amusing though doesn't exactly add to the story narrative. The only part of the entire film that deflates the high created throughout is the final scenes between the bride and groom as they discuss whether they should get married at all. The realisations they share are quite depressing yet the wedding goes ahead feels somewhat forced. On the whole though, the cast are brilliantly entertaining, it's always great to see such natural chemistry between a group.
Romantic comedies, lately, tend to lean towards unsatisfying ending where things aren't completely fixed and characters are left with a sobering feeling rather than an exciting hope filled one. Thankfully, Jess Plus None offers both a truthful eye-opening end as well as a hopeful end to most of the characters, especially Jess as she really needs something to look forward to.
Jess Plus None screened at BFI Flare 2023
