The Sun Never Sets Movie Review

This is a Joe Swanberg film (known for Drinking Buddies, Looking, Love, and V/H/S), in every way possible. ​
He wrote it, directed it, produced and edited it. I’m surprised he didn’t put himself in as second lead next to Dakota Fanning. Not to take anything away from Jake Johnson, who he works with a lot, but I’m thinking it would have been titillating for us all to see if he could have pulled it off. He is in the film, though. He’s Keith. Joe! Let go some. You can trust others to do the work! Goodness. Well, it works for him.

Anyway, Jack (who’s played by Jake) and Wendy (Fanning) are dating at the start of the film. He has two children and an ex-wife and knows he doesn’t want to go down that road again. She would like to at some point in her life. All seems fine between them so I can’t figure out why he doesn’t have faith in his or Wendy’s ability to raise a child together. His kids love her, so what gives? Wendy is only thirty-one, so he decides to be selfless and suggests something completely abhorrent to her. And to you, audience.

Since her friends are moving on with life, getting married, having children, why doesn’t she make sure that, since he doesn’t want those things, see if Jack is who she would really be happy with. She should take a six-month moratorium on them and go party it up with some other guys to see if she’d rather have one of them. What?! He professes to love her but… does he? A friend of his from the Navy (Lamorne Morris) tells him it’s a terrible idea. If he’s ready to lose her, then go for it. Jack defends his reason for her to see if she can be a whole person and not just his other half.

Wendy goes on a few dates, pretty much expected. You’re not really given much you didn’t already know would happen. It seems pretty conventional at this point. She then reconnects with an old beau named Chuck, played by Cory Michael Smith from “Saturday Night” and “Sentimental Value.” She’s currently on a date with Brad (Daley) but memories of how much she was into Chuck rush back to her brain and body and Brad gets kicked to the curb… instantly.

They have good times and she lets Jack know that she has been seeing Chuck and wants to see where it goes. This rattles him. She was supposed to get with some new guy who wouldn’t be someone she already knew intimately. So, he tells her that anything Chuck can offer her, he can, too. Should have thought of that before ya dummy!! He’s upset. He’s crazy jealous and can’t believe he did this to himself. His Navy friend is rolling his eyes. So does Wendy. Jack professes his love but gets in further trouble with her because she’s giving him his space and taking hers… just as he told her to.

He’s right. She does need to find herself, but she doesn’t need to look for it in others. That’s the main message of the movie. Don’t go adrift. Fight for what you want and stay in the game. There’s no pinch hitting in life. Do it or miss out. Fanning needed this to be seen as someone other than the little girl roles that have been in our heads for years. Good for you, Dakota! Now go out there and get involved in something you can really get your nails in and be the part that’s remembered as you once were and can be again.