What would you do to save a failing relationship? Jason Biggs’ directorial debut, Untitled Home Invasion Romance, tackles this question. The film follows Kevin (Biggs) as he takes his wife, Suzie (Meaghan Rath), on a romantic weekend in an effort to save his marriage after a trial separation. If the secluded location wasn’t enough, Kevin has cooked up a scheme with an acting class buddy, Ernie (Arturo Castro), to stage a home invasion where Kevin gets to play the hero and win back his bride in dramatic fashion. Sounds like a fool-proof plan, right?
Jason Biggs gives a solid performance here, playing into his strengths as a lovable loser in over his head. His comedic timing is as impeccable as ever, and he brings a quirky charm to Kevin that still makes you root for him even when his plan blows up in his face.
The real breakout performance is Rath, a Canadian actress known for short stints on shows like New Girl and Schitt’s Creek. She gets the most character development throughout the film and shows off an impressive range, going from sweet and unassuming to absolutely vicious. She has a commanding presence, and the movie works best when she’s on screen. Her alto-like voice contributes to her ability to be both dismissive towards Kevin and menacing towards everyone else.
The film features a strong script from Jamie Naopli and Joshua Paul Johnson, infusing some legitimately heartfelt moments between Kevin and Suzie in an otherwise hilarious script. My favorite supporting performance comes from TikTok star Austen Alexander, who plays Officer Ritchie, one of the local cops who gets involved in the case after the home invasion event. He only gets a few lines here and there, but he absolutely crushes his spots and makes the most of a small performance. His tone matches the script perfectly.
INVASION ROMANCE. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
Over time, the film shifts perspective from primarily Kevin’s view to show us all sides of Suzie, not just his view of her. She’s not merely someone for him to win back for the purposes of the story, but a fully fleshed-out character with her own distinct motivations and ideas. It’s a smart choice that goes against typical genre tropes and makes the film more well-rounded.
Biggs and crew are touching on something resonant, albeit through an absurd premise. Struggling marriages are not all created equal, of course, but there’s often a key disconnect between the two members that makes it hard to reconcile. Kevin’s inferiority complex makes him assume it’s all about him and his failings, when in reality the issue between him and Suzie is much more complicated and can’t necessarily be rectified by one act of manufactured heroism. Oftentimes, we view our disconnects with others as purely our fault and choose to isolate rather than take a beat to consider other possibilities and talk it through with the other person.
The movie does drag a bit in the back half, spinning its wheels as Kevin keeps running into walls as he attempts to maintain his innocence in the home invasion scheme. Thankfully, the short run time offers a forgiving version of this, as it can’t sit around for too long without something interesting or funny happening. Biggs’ charm is more than enough to keep an audience engaged, and the movie contains much more depth than you’d initially expect.
Untitled Home Invasion Romance is a solid comedy and a delightful directorial debut from Jason Biggs. He utilizes a sharp script and good performances all around to piece together an entertaining, unique story that’s a true joy to watch.
Untitled Home Invasion Romance is currently available on Digital platforms courtesy of Republic Pictures.
Untitled Home Invasion Romance is a solid comedy and a delightful directorial debut from Jason Biggs. He utilizes a sharp script and good performances all around to piece together an entertaining, unique story that’s a true joy to watch.
Proud owner of three movie passes. Met Harrison Ford at a local diner once. Based in Raleigh, NC.
