In the dark British farce The Trouble with Jessica, the most despicable, unwelcome guest at a dinner party dies by suicide in the back yard, and the other four diners must dispose of the inconvenient corpse to prevent financial ruin of the hosts. As one might expect, the foursome must run a gauntlet of nosy neighbors, earnest police and horny drunks.
Five very able veteran actors (Shirley Henderson, Alan Tudyk, Olivia Williams, Rupert Sewell and Indira Varma) keep the laughs coming. Henderson, so good in Intermission and the Harry Potter franchise, brilliantly pivots her character from hand-wringing to ruthlessness. Varma does well with the most delicious role, an attractive, talented and successful person who is personally despicable in every way.
The story in The Trouble with Jessica follows a familiar premise, and the arc is predictable. But the acting is so vivid that it works as a light diversion.
The Trouble with Jessica was directed by Matt Winn, who co-wrote the screenplay with James Handel.
The Trouble with Jessica is opening this weekend, including at the Laemmle Royal in LA. I screened The Trouble With Jessica for the 2024 Cinequest.