Danielle Solzman
The Unicorn puts threesomes into a new perspective while also managing to expose the problems within one couple’s relationship at the same time.
Malory (Lauren Lapkus) and Caleb (Nick Rutherford) have found themselves in Palm Springs. Neither of them have a choice in the matter. This is because Malory’s mother and step-father are renewing their wedding vows for their 25th anniversary. This would be fun and all if not for the fact that they do this every year. What starts out as a routine Friday night in bed soon becomes a rather wild night. Instead, the recently re-engaged couple heads to a bar for some role-playing. The role-playing soon gets canceled when Malory meets Jesse (Lucy Hale) at the bar.
By the time that Caleb arrives, the two women have gotten to know each other. Moreover, they take advantage of the bartender. It soon becomes a case of fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Regardless, the three of them soon find themselves at Jesse’s place. This is where things get rather interesting because signals are getting misread all over the place. The missed signals not withstanding, Malory and Caleb see to it that they find an opportunity for a threesome. An Uber trip leads them to strip club NIOCT–a strange way to spell Intensity but oh, well!
The opportunity to threesome finds a whole other problem between Malory and Caleb. In their seven years together, they haven’t been completely honest with each other. These problems soon come out when they have threesomes with dancer Tyson (Beck Bennett) and professional escort April (Dree Hemingway). These two opportunities provide to be ample learning experiences for the couple. Maybe not experiences but it shows some gaps in their relationship. Is it possible that their relationship might never be the same? Who knows!
Given their comedic background, the performances from Lapkus and Rutherford are to be expected. The film provides an opportunity for a few of the Good Neighbor sketch comedy group to act together. Granted not in the same scenes but Rutherford acts opposite both Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney–who plays Gabe–in the film. Dave McCary is the only one not involved in the film.
It might not a big part but The Unicorn offers the opportunity for Pretty Little Liars actress Lucy Hale to show off her comedic chops. This isn’t something that we often see from Hale in TV or film. Maybe we’ll see Hale choose to take on more comedy performances in the future?
Whether or not threesomes are your cup of tea, The Unicorn provides some fascinating insight into how they might shake up a relationship.
DIRECTOR: Robert Schwartzman
SCREENWRITERS: Nick Rutherford & Kirk C. Johnson & Will Elliott
CAST: Lauren Lapkus, Nick Rutherford, Lucy Hale, Beck Bennett, Dree Hemingway, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Maya Kazan, John Kapelos, Beverly D’Angelo, and Kyle Mooney
