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Not all friendships stand the test of time—but some people are lucky enough to have friendships that last through life’s changes. In the dark comedy The Trouble with Jessica, though, one of those lifelong friendships is tested when the perfect evening takes an unexpected turn.
The Trouble with Jessica sits down for dinner with five old friends. Tom and Sarah (Alan Tudyk and Shirley Henderson) are about to sell their house due to financial difficulties—but, first, they’re looking forward to enjoying dinner with Richard and Beth (Rufus Sewell and Olivia Williams). The energy of the evening shifts, though, when they arrive with an uninvited guest: best-selling author Jessica (Indira Varma). And when Jessica hangs herself in Tom and Sarah’s yard, the friends scramble to figure out what to do to protect the all-important sale of the house.
What was supposed to be a relaxing night with old friends turns tense with Jessica’s arrival—and for good reason. Jessica has always been different—the one who never settled down—and she’s shared the stories of her scandalous life in her book. With her friends, she’s confident and bold—openly flirting with the men and criticizing the women. And when she storms off, everyone else seems relieved to have a break from the drama. But then Beth discovers her body, and chaos ensues.
What plays out, then, is a mix of drama and dark humor. The friends bicker about what to do about Jessica. Sarah is desperate—set on manipulating the story, even if it means resorting to criminal behavior. And as they continue to argue over the right course of action, more and more visitors to the house threaten to mess everything up.
The story may be entirely unlikely, but the cast keeps it entertaining—whether they’re arguing about the best course of action, confessing their sins, or working together to cover everything up. Alan Tudyk, especially, brings comedy to even the darkest moments, thanks to his perfect facial expressions and comic timing. At times, the pacing drags as it gets caught up in too much drama—which makes it feel longer than its 89-minute runtime—but the amusing moments still shine through.
The Trouble with Jessica takes an otherwise pleasantly dull evening with old friends and turns it into darkly comic chaos. Though it sometimes gets a little too reflective and the pacing feels uneven, the cast helps by keeping the laughs coming.
You can join these friends in their cover-up when The Trouble with Jessica arrives in theaters on April 25, 2025.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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