THE INTERVENTION

US, 2016, 90 minutes, Colour.

Melanie Lynskey, Jason Ritter, Natasha Lyonne, Clea Du Vall, Ben Schwartz, Alia Shawkat, Vincent Piazza, Cobe Smulders.

Directed by Clea Du Vall.

The intervention is the writing and directing debut of actress Clea Du Vall. Later she was to take up some of these themes, especially lesbian relationships, in The Happiest Season.

Many have likened this film to The Big Chill. However, it is slighter, a focus on eight characters, their relationships, a married couple with years of tension and the decision for an intervention to advise them to get divorced.

Behind the plan is Annie, Melanie Linskey, unable to commit herself to marrying her friend and partner, Matt, Jason Ritter. She also has a drinking problem. The couple with the problems is played  by Cobie Smulders and Vincent Piazza. Also in the scene are the lesbian couple, Jessie, Clea Du Vall, and Sarah, Natasha Lyonne. Then there is a widower, Jack, Ben Schwartz, who has taken up with a girl almost half his age, Lola, Ali Shawkat.

The film introduces the couple, establishes their characters, their past, their interactions. The actual intervention attempt is a flop, Annie drinking and unable to go through with it. Eventually, everyone is assembled and Jack blurts out the truth. There are harsh repercussions for Peter who goes off by himself drinking, and Ruby who retires to her room. Ironically, it is a Lola who ventures into talk with Ruby and who actually offers sensible and practical suggestions about building a future.

Ultimately, Annie is really upset that the intervention didn’t go her way, that she demanded a divorce. However, tables are turned, and there is an intervention by the group for Annie and her drinking.

The ending of the film is upbeat, each of the couples facing some problems but finding reconciliation.

1. Title? The plan? The motivation? Hesitations? Blunt interventions? Consequences?
2. The home for the intervention, air travel, car arrivals, the house, the grounds, the interiors? Going into town, the park bench? The musical score?
3. Introducing the characters: Annie, on the plane, the little girl, covering her face, having the whiskey, indications of drinking? Meeting with Matt, the relationship, the planned marriage, putting it off? And his idea for the intervention, for Peter and Ruby to get divorced? Jessie, a relationship with Sarah, three years? Her owning the house? Jack, widower, with Lola, age difference, the flirting? Peter and Ruby arriving, Ruby on crutches, the tension between them, his phone call on the way, her complaining?
4. Annie and her planning the intervention? The meal, the chatter, any drinking, not making the intervention? The consequences? Removing her because of her drinking?
5. The interactions amongst the group, Ruby and Jesse as sisters, Lola, the outsider, young, flirtatious, the encounter with Jesse, kissing her and being caught?
6. The clash between Jesse and Sarah, Sarah upset, her declaration about men, the fight, in the water? Truth told? The final reconciliation?
7. Annie, the plan to get Peter and Ruby to go to town, writing the comments? The intervention, Jack and his blunt statement? Peter and Ruby and their reactions? Peter drinking, the group having to go out and find him? Ruby upset, throwing things at Annie? Yet talking with Lola?
8. The irony that Lola had sensible things to say to Ruby, to make a new beginning?
9. Peter, upset, the plan to go sailing, the tradition, Ruby refusing?
10. Peter in town, on the bench, Ruby meeting him after the talk with Lola? Frank talking, talking things through, love, new beginnings?
11. Jack, the discussions with Lola, possibilities?
12. Annie, shocked at the reconciliation, not her plan? The group bringing her back, the pieces of paper with their comments about and his drinking? Her wanting to put off the wedding with Matt?
13. On the plane home, Annie drinking the orange juice?
14. A positive look at marriage, tensions, relationships, possibilities for reconciliation and building?