From the moment we meet him as he delivers a riveting monologue, Kutcher exudes magnetism. We cannot overstate how great Kutcher is. One of them is music producer Quentin (Ashton Kutcher). Distinctively colorful characters who Ira Glass would kill to have on This American Life. In his pursuit of the truth, Ben meets all sorts of oddballs. A little cold, crude, crass? Yep, but that’s one of the main points of Vengeance. Ben doesn’t want to be there for the funeral, but he immediately changes his mind when he sees an opportunity to turn her death into a podcast for a national platform. When one of those casual hookups suddenly dies, that leads to an unexpected and reluctant trip to Texas. Numerous available ladies are saved on Ben’s phone with nicknames instead of their real full names. The opening scene sets the tone, as Novak and his buddy (played by John Mayer) swap theories about dating in the digital age. This is in stark contrast to his personal life where he seems to rejoice in not being connected and cultivating meaningful relationships. Who tells these stories? People like Novak’s lead character Ben, a writer/podcaster who’s eager to connect with a larger audience professionally. It’s far too easy to forget that these stories are about real people with real lives and real dreams. These days it’s packaged as content that we consume as entertainment in the form of podcasts, newscasts, and documentaries. But he reaches deeper to uncover uncomfortable truths about America’s obsession with true crime and culture clashes. Would have been solid albeit predictable. In his directing debut, Novak could have been satisfied with making a mere fish-out-of-water tale of a New Yorker visiting West Texas. Perhaps the most Texas movie since Hell or High Water. With Vengeance, Novak steps out of his comfort zone to create a remarkable Texas film.
It has taken Novak a moment, but he may have found his footing. Krasinski broke through with A Quiet Place and its sequel. Carell established himself quickly with hit films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Little Miss Sunshine. The Office, a television show that remains culturally relevant almost a decade after its final episode, has produced so many talented people: Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Dwight Schrute, Mindy Kaling, Craig Robinson, Jenna Fischer, Novak, etc.
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