They say two’s company, three’s a crowd. Well, with writer-director Stephen Portland’s Universal, this Withnail & I meets Interstellar only increases in its curiousness when its eventual trio of players begin their mind-blowing journey by mistake.
Leo (Joe Thomas) and Naomi (Rosa Robson) are academics retreating to an isolated holiday home for some much-needed R ‘n’ R. The lodgings and surroundings are picturesque and postcard-perfect. There is also no cell phone signal, which is initially a speed bump in the couple’s early attempts at serenity, but after some drinks and a deep dive into each other’s hopes and dreams, they soon reconcile themselves to the idea of being completely disconnected from the rat race.
Until the following day, when, out of the blue, Ricky (Kelley Mack) shows up unannounced. Here’s where the plot thickens and the film goes up a gear. For Ricky, she’s a little ASD different, if not borderline Bob Wiley sociopathic. She imposes herself as the awkward third wheel, insisting to Leo that he has unsuspectingly uncovered a secret hidden within his DNA research.
Having essentially stalked him and driven miles to broach the subject further, and despite the couple’s desire to merely enjoy time alone, Naomi allows the research to continue till dark, only if the next day Ricky promises to leave. So, the holiday is sidelined as Leo and Ricky pore over data and computer modelling of the results, making slow but fascinating progress.
“The gravity of what could be the greatest discovery in the history of humanity hangs in the balance…”
As time goes on, this unique trio appreciates each other’s idiosyncrasies, and an uneasy bond develops. But as the next day dawns, a new unearthing in the research changes the mood and circumstances completely. The gravity of what could be the greatest discovery in the history of humanity hangs in the balance as these three complicated people come to grips with what they have found and the possible next steps.
While the setup lingers a little too long, the strength of Universal is in its second act. Once the trio is forced into the uncompromising compromise, the awkward dynamic that builds between them, because of the off-handed message of the movie, we are increasingly more connected to each other, both literally (in terms of technology) and genetically. The elephant in the room becomes apparent when our three protagonists uncover it. There may be more to the universe than meets the eye.
Portland has constructed something that balances off-beat humor and captivating character study enough to keep you leaning forward, especially as the story reaches its peak. Points are deducted for moments that drag here and there and the abandoning of an interesting subplot which could have made certain situations really interesting. There are some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments, in particular one with a toilet and a spatula that I won’t soon forget. The trio of actors suit their roles perfectly, and Portland’s direction is minimal but effective, allowing his actors to really engage your attention as they pull the narrative ahead.
On the whole, Universal may not interest the casual movie watcher. But if you’ve a fondness for quirky humor, solid character interplay, and a smart single-location story, then your search is over as this is the hidden gem you never knew you needed.
"…the hidden gem you never knew you needed."
