Unplugging Movie Storyline. UNPLUGGING follows married Chicago couple Dan (Matt Walsh) and Jeanine (Eva Longoria) Dewerson, who have a tween daughter and are typically attached to their screens and devices. Dan is a work-at-home entrepreneur who makes small-batch hot sauce, while Jeanine works late hours at a real estate firm.
After a friends’ unexpected death, Dan decides he’s had enough of not being fully present in his marriage and plans an off-the-grid trip where he and Jeanine can experience a digital detox away from phones, computers, video games, and social media. But once they arrive in the rural setting of their rustic vacation, Dan and Jeanine struggle with their new unplugged reality in the face of wacky locals, including government conspiracy theorists and suspicious store owners.
Unplugging is an American comedy film directed by Debra Neil-Fisher, in her directorial debut, from a screenplay by Brad Morris and Matt Walsh. It stars Eva Longoria, Matt Walsh, Nicole Byer, Al Madrigal, Lea Thompson, Keith David, Johnny Pemberton, Hala Finley, Tina Parker, Krista Perry, Lureena Cornwell, Anthony Parker and Nancy Friedrich. It was released on April 22, 2022 by Vertical Entertainment.
Film Review for Unplugging
Despite its two capable comedic leads, this romcom doesn’t rise above the level of stereotypical fish-out-of-water and off-the-grid jokes. The movie, directed by Debra Neil-Fisher working from Brad Morris and Walsh’s script, starts out strong, with an obvious explanation of how attached the Dewersons, particularly Jeanine, are to their devices.
There’s a tragicomic plot point involving the funeral of Dan’s extroverted UPS driver, Juan (Al Madrigal), whom he saw and chatted with six times a week. But once the couple arrives at their rustic getaway, the story falls short of cohesive or funny, even with supporting roles played by the talented but underused Keith David and Lea Thompson, with a brief cameo from Nicole Byer. Aside from one heartfelt conversation between Dan and Jeanine, there’s also not much substance to the script.
It’s certainly not terrible. There are far worse offerings in theaters and on streaming services, but Unplugging has an uneven tone, and the attempts at broad comedy fall flat (like Dan and Jeanine shoplifting from the neighborhood gas station convenience store, or playing a silly, charades-like game). These shortcomings mark it as the sort of movie that tests viewers’ willingness to put down their own phone to watch.
There are funny bits sprinkled throughout (less-is-more moments that rely on the actors’ physical comedy timing), but not nearly enough of them. The movie serves as a reminder that both Walsh and Longoria are best served on TV series and should consider going back to their roots. As for this lackluster comedy, it’s skippable for a big movie night but, ironically, serviceable as a background stream while you multitask.
Unplugging (2022)
Directed by: Debra Neil-Fisher
Starring: Eva Longoria, Matt Walsh, Nicole Byer, Al Madrigal, Lea Thompson, Keith David, Johnny Pemberton, Hala Finley, Tina Parker, Krista Perry, Lureena Cornwell, Anthony Parker, Nancy Friedrich
Screenplay by: Brad Morris, Matt Walsh
Production Design by: Candi Guterres
Cinematography by: Federico Cantini
Film Editing by: David Clark
Costume Design by: Jillian Bundrick
Set Decoration by: Priyanka Guterres
Music by: Leo Birenberg
MPAA Rating: R for language, some sexual content and brief drug use..
Distributed by: Vertical Entertainment
Release Date: April 22, 2022
Visits: 55
