We’re presented with what seems to be a simple, character-driven relationship drama: model Carl (Harris Dickinson) is questioning and rebelling against traditional gender-roles in his relationship with influencer girlfriend Yaya (Charlbi Dean.)
When the pair drift onto a cruise on a luxury yacht, the sophistication they’ve presented to the world is challenged by those already living the life they aspire to: a Russian oligarch (Zlatko Burić) and his wife (Sunnyi Melles,) a lonely tech millionaire (Henrik Dorsin,) and an older couple whose wealth came from the manufacture of weapons (Amanda Walker and Oliver Ford Davies.) The chief steward (Vicki Berlin) caters to the increasingly absurd demands of the wealthy passengers, even when it places her crew and the safety of the boat itself into question, while its captain (Woody Harrelson) spends the voyage locked drunk in his cabin.
The less revealed about the events which unravel through Ruben Östlund’s bitterly comedic triptych the better. This is a film that works best when each turn that disrupts traditional roles amongst the diverse cast of characters comes as a surprise.
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