Robin and I went to the theater to see “No Other Choice,” but we had the wrong time. The only movie that was about to start was “Send Help,” so we actually had “No Other Choice!” We didn’t know anything about it, but the afternoon would be shot if we didn’t see it, so what the heck! It turns out, this mistake of mine was “meant to be,” since Rachel McAdams (my favorite actress) was the star, and it was directed by Sam Raimi, who directed my two favorite super-hero movies (“Spiderman” and “Spiderman-2” – the ones with Toby McGuire & Kirsten Dunst)! This film is partly based on “Survivor” and horror stories about the awful way stars treat grunts in Hollywood. (It has an 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes.)
I think Rachel McAdams is the most underrated actress in Hollywood, and, without being hyperbolic, this is one of the greatest injustices in human history! She can play both serious and comedic parts. She received A.A. and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress in “Spotlight” (2016), but that’s it! She was also terrific in “Mean Girls,” “The Notebook,” Wedding Crashers,” “Southpaw,” and “Game Night” (FYI: “Game Night” is one of my favorite comedies and is a MUST-SEE)! Rachel’s incredible performance in “Send Help” ought to win her the A.A., but it’s a B-movie (although a great one), so I doubt that she will even get nominated. Rachel somehow, in the same movie, plays an unattractive, socially-inept nerd, a pretty & sexy woman on the beach, and a resourceful survivor, who, if circumstances warrant it, can become violent.
Linda Liddle (McAdams) is a socially-awkward woman who somehow finds a way to look as unattractive as possible. Her only close companion is a parrot. However, she is extremely smart and valuable to “Preston Strategic Solutions,” where she works as a Manager in the Planning and Strategy Department. The CEO has promised her a promotion to Vice-President. Unfortunately, he dies and his son Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) becomes the CEO. Bradley then promotes his fraternity brother – who does nothing and takes credit for Linda’s work – to the position. Bradley is a malignant narcissist who is so turned-off by Rachel’s appearance and social ineptitude that he seriously considers firing her. He is discouraged from doing so by his father’s right-hand man, who knows how valuable she is to the company. To check Linda out further, he invites her on a company trip to Thailand to close a merger. The team goes on a private plane, the plane crashes into the ocean, and Linda and Bradley wash up on a beach in an uninhabited island. They are the only survivors. As luck would have it, Linda is a “Survivor” fan and has wanted to be a contestant on the show. She has learned how to survive in situations like this – which is very important, as it will be a while before help arrives.
Bradley starts out being disrespectful and bossing Linda around as if they are still at work, but Linda soon turns the tables on him. Bradley must allow this, since he realizes that he will die without Linda’s help. The relationship they develop on the island is fascinating and has multiple twists & turns. There are also considerable dangers on the island. The film, which I would classify as primarily an hilarious dark comedy-thriller, has interesting character development, and is also suspenseful, violent, and gory. In other words, it has it all!
The film is a MUST-SEE, and it will surely be in my Top 10 for 2026. Despite being only January, it even has a good chance to make my Top 5! It’s very creative, and I have never seen a movie quite like it!
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