The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Jessica Williams the reason to catch ‘Jessica James’
Netflix rom-com a strong showcase for former ‘Daily Show’ correspondent
Essentially, Netflix’s film “The Incredible Jessica James” is a pleasing showcase for the many talents of Jessica Williams.
Available now on the streaming giant, the relationship comedy from writer-director Jim Strouse (“Grace Is Gone,” “The Winning Season”) was a hit at Sundance.
Williams, a former “Daily Show” correspondent, plays the title character, a 25-year-old aspiring New York City playwright who makes ends meet teaching theater to kids in public schools for a nonprofit organization.
She’s clearly the star of her own life, which gives Williams opportunities to dance around and fantasize scenarios she is at the center of. Jessica, James that is, has just broken up with her boyfriend of two years, Damon (Lakeith Stanfield of FX’s “Atlanta,” and “Straight Outta Compton”). She’s back on Tinder, but more with an eye to making him jealous, at least in her mind.
Meanwhile, Jessica makes progress with her young student, one she sees as a proxy for herself when she was young and passionate about the theater. That is something she still has, although she hasn’t had a play produced in the city yet, opening a series rejection letters.
When her best friend, Tasha (Noël Wells of Netflix’s “Master of None”), suggests she go out on a blind date with a recently divorced man, Jessica rejects the notion at first but relents. Boone (Chris O’Dowd), who made his money inventing an app, isn’t what she is looking for, but she doesn’t know, either. Still, she’s intrigued by the unlikely attraction, despite her instincts.
“The Incredible Jessica James” then travels a lot of familiar paths as the two struggle with their pasts as they stumble to the future. Nevertheless, the joy of the film is watching Williams vamp.
When Boone tells Jessica James he likes her, her response is, “Of course you do. Everybody does. I’m freaking dope.” It isn’t a boast. Some people are likable. Williams definitely is, and she shows it here. You would only wish “Incredible” was an edgier stage.
The film eventually finds just enough drama to hang its cuteness on, making it acceptable as a lightweight diversion. It helps that O’Dowd, Stanfield, and Wells are all amusing in their own ways, but the reason to catch the film is for Williams.
“The Incredible Jessica James” then travels a lot of familiar paths as the two struggle with their pasts as they stumble to the future. Nevertheless, the joy of the film is watching Williams vamp.