The opening scene to Jess Plus None will undoubtedly capture your attention as it provides insight into Jess (Abby Miller), a heartbroken 30-something desperate to love and be loved yet a little confused between sex and love. Let’s just say it’s a solo sex scene.
Quickly we realize Jess is getting ready to leave town to be the maid of honor at her college best friend Melanie’s (Marielle Scott) wedding to Greg (Scott Speiser) at a destination glamping wedding in the woods. Jess is part of a close group of college friends, all making their way to the wedding, and they all have relationship issues as they come together, including the bride and groom.
In several subplots, Jess Plus None director and writer Mandy Fabian covers all the bases of relationships in great detail, revealing everyone’s personalities and all the chaos that ensues, including Jess being harassed by what was supposed to be her wedding date Cliff, who we never see but do hear.
For Jess, her breakup with Sam eight months before, who will be a guest at the wedding, is a weighing undertone that no one can ignore. Constantly bringing up Sam, sniffing her Vassar sweatshirt, and a non-stop need to m********e everywhere, Jess is a mess and has lost her way, but not without her humor and wit.
“Jess is part of a close group of college friends, all making their way to the wedding…”
Then there’s Wendy (Alexis Krause) and Nate (Tate Ellington), who are married and leave their young son behind, which worries Tate but not Wendy, who seeks attention elsewhere with her college friend Hugh (Shalim Ortiz), who has become a famous and sexy singer, which puts Tate in a helpless place. Other college friends include Peter (Rory O’Malley) and Vince (Craig Thomas), who are seemingly a match made in heaven but struggle with age differences and commitment. And then there’s the bride and groom, who appear to be opposites and unconnected. The only single guest in attendance is Melanie’s brother Brian (Michael Dunn), Jess Plus None’s ultimate comic relief.
A bevy of circumstances and situations are brought to the forefront that is plausible while camping in the woods with no cell service, lots of group activities, and, of course, someone who goes missing, which happens to be Vince. As a search party goes out, Jess is led to a vision quest by a forest ranger (Matt Walsh) that offers another dynamic to the wedding weekend and changes Jess’s course in life and the wedding. With the force of nature at work in many aspects, everyone must confront their relationship issues and their ability to help one another, including future decisions—especially for the bride and groom.
Mandy Fabian put forth great effort in utilizing her location and script to add incredible comedy and wit to an age-old story. Abby Miller, who plays Jess, is a talent on the rise and can make the bizarre hilarious and honest and throw down some good slapstick. All the cast members’ group dynamics and energy are on the screen as Jess Plus None feels familiar and never loses a beat, holding your attention until the end. It’s a rom-com that serves many people and leaves you smiling. Mandy Fabian offers a well-thought-out film and story for a debut movie.
Jess Plus None screened at the 2023 Frameline Film Festival. For screening information, visit the Jess Plus None official website.
