Anniversary

by Mike McGranaghan

Anniversary starts off seeming as though it’s going to be a routine family drama about a clan that gets rocked when one of its members shows up with a controversial new romantic partner. In reality, this is a deeply political film that boldly envisions a worst-case scenario for our country, using this family as a conduit to delve into some big ideas. What it has to say is provocative and might rub some viewers the wrong way. That, of course, is a sign that it’s doing something very right.

The story begins at an anniversary party for Ellen and Paul Taylor (Diane Lane and Kyle Chandler). Their children are reunited at the celebration. Depressed Cynthia (Zoey Deutch) shows up with husband Rob (Daryl McCormack) and doesn’t seem to be in an entirely happy place in the marriage. Anna (Madeline Brewer) is a successful stand-up comedian. Birdie (Mckenna Grace) still lives at home and has a rabid interest in science. Last but not least, there’s Josh (Dylan O’Brien), a struggling author who arrives with his new girlfriend, Liz Nettles (Phoebe Dynevor). Liz was once a university student of Ellen’s, and her extremist political views proved alarming.

Once that’s established – along with Ellen’s continued mistrust of Liz – the movie shows what happens in the following five years. Liz writes a best-selling book called “The Change” that advocates for radical one-party rule, i.e. an essential end to democracy as we know it. The book becomes a best seller, with her words inspiring millions of people across America to join the philosophy. Aside from Josh, the Taylors reject Liz’s theory, not that it matters because America swiftly descends into a fascist regime as a result of the movement. Just as the country is torn apart, so is the family.

“The Change” is clearly a metaphor for the MAGA movement. A large portion of the country thinks MAGA will save America. Scholars of fascist regimes, on the other hand, continue to sound the alarm that we’re hitting all the signposts of a slide in that direction. I’m not naïve enough to think anybody cares about a film critic’s political views; I’ll therefore keep mine to myself. The point I’m trying to make by mentioning it is that nothing about Anniversary is even the least bit subtle. At all. Every story beat is designed to hit you over the head so there’s no possible way you can miss the point. Events become (hopefully) more preposterous as the movie hits its third act, simply to make viewers contemplate the absolute worst way a scenario like this could play out.

Despite that lack of subtlety – which would be a downfall for many pictures - Anniversary works because what it hypothesizes really is scary, and it does provoke thought. The plot is fundamentally constructed to be a “What If?” scenario. Allow yourself to surrender to that and it’s difficult not to get sucked in. Human minds instinctively dwell on the negative. Director Jan Komasa and screenwriter Lori Rosene-Gambino understand that, and they spin a yarn that burrows its way into your brain.

Adding to the effect is that the performances are strong across the board. Each and every one of the actors gives a fully committed turn that accomplishes whatever function their character is intended to fulfill. From Kyle Chandler depicting the heartbreak of a man realizing his family has fractured to Dylan O’Brien credibly conveying how Josh sheds his liberal upbringing and embraces a different mindset, the acting is top-tier. This amazing ensemble cast sells the admittedly exaggerated material.

A lot of movies vanish from memory not long after seeing them. To its credit, Anniversary leaves a mark.

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