When Nyles (Andy Samberg) attends a wedding in Palm Springs he makes a connection with Sarah (Cristin Milioti), the Maid of Honour. Unfortunately given that Nyles is trapped in a time loop it is a moment that he can’t move forward with as he knows that tomorrow will just be a repeat of today.

Palm Springs is a darkly comic spin on the Groundhog Day premise. Where Groundhog Day’s time loop seems to be very much a way to teach its protagonist a life lesson Palm Springs takes a much more scientific approach with the loop seemingly created by a seismic event and quantum physics possibly offering a solution. As a result when we meet Nyles he is resigned to the fact that he will never escape today and has clearly been to some dark places. Unfortunately for others though Nyles is able to accidentally trap people in the loop and this is the impetus and drive of this fantastic film.

One of the many things that is so good about the film is that the writer, Andy Siara seems to have considered every possible thing that someone might do with infinite time and factored it in. We do not necessarily see every possible thing but there are throwaway observations or looks that hint at them all. The things we do see though are given such a brilliant humorous twist that you do want to see more. Dance routines, tacos, borrowing someone’s home and stealing a plane are just some of the great things on offer. And of course just like Groundhog Day, there are many deaths as well. There is even a hint that at least one other character is stuck in the loop and has just accepted it. 

Palm Springs is a film that manages to be laugh out loud funny, romantic, philosophical, dark and ridiculous at varying points. Andy Samberg is perfect for the role, able to pivot between nihilistic, dramatic and hilarious at the drop of a hat. His chemistry with Cristin Milioti is palpable and she matches him equally in her ability to fit the different tones of the film. Elsewhere J.K. Simmons makes a fantastic recurring appearance as a less than happy wedding guest.

Highly recommended. Punxsutawney Phil has a challenger in the time loop comedy stakes.