FILMS X JENI’S: Don’t Worry Darling
I’ve decided to take two of my favorite things in the world - cinema and Jeni’s Ice Cream - and combine them. I introduce to you Films x Jeni’s: a blog series in which I review my recently watched films and subsequently pair them with the Jeni’s ice cream flavors that fit them best. Whether you’re looking for your next movie to watch, Jeni’s flavor to try, or simply want to be entertained by the way my brain processes information, grab your popcorn and enjoy the show.
The Don’t Worry Darling Review
With stars like Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, and Gemma Chan, what’s not to love? Well, I’ll tell you.
I’d like to start off by saying I did not hate this movie. If I could describe it in one word, that word would be: interesting. Due to all of the press drama and poor reviews beforehand, I went into this watch with considerably low expectations; while I wouldn’t say it necessarily exceeded those expectations, I also wouldn’t say it was as bad as I thought it would be.
Of course, Florence Pugh largely carries the movie due to her phenomenal ability to infuse life into everything she does. On the other hand, Harry Styles has largely been criticized for his performance, but - and perhaps it’s just because I’m in love with him - I think for a good ⅔ of the film he held his own rather well. It wasn’t until things got particularly intense and emotional - two categories Florence Pugh shines in - that things started to get a little shaky. However, I think the odds were stacked against Harry from the moment he and Florence were paired together; while a gorgeous couple, the acting experience gap was far too wide for it to ever be a fair match between the seasoned actress and film newcomer.
The execution and pacing of the plot itself is where I think the real issues lie. It’s been compared to “if a white woman tries to make a Jordan Peele movie,” and I honestly think this is a really fair summation. I left with a feeling similar to when I watched Nope - namely a “what did I just witness” kind of feeling. However, while with Nope I thought there was some deeper meaning I had missed, with Don’t Worry Darling I felt as though I picked up on everything they’d put down, I just didn’t really understand why they chose to put it down in the first place.
One of the biggest problems in this realm was the pacing. In a majority of effective plot lines, the writer has us sit in stasis for a good amount of time so the viewer gets a grip on what normalcy looks like. With DWD, pretty much right out of the gate we started seeing huge signs that something was wrong, and then we sat in a kind of plateau for ⅔ of the movie until a totally left field plot twist came in - a plot twist I found slightly disappointing. Up to that point, the movie had potential for a really interesting payoff, but the specific route they chose to take the plot seemed so far out of the picturesque period piece they had created that it somehow undermined a lot of things the film had going for it. It’s also not a plot twist concept that is necessarily new to the cinema world (it’s giving The Matrix and The Truman Show) so the shock factor of the choice wasn’t there.
**Spoiler: I also think it was maybe not the best choice to have our only black character as the group outcast and then eventually was killed off. Perhaps they were trying to make a statement that black people are just more woke than everyone else, but I thought the “let’s kill the black character first” trope was a thing of the past. It’s also worth noting that Kiki Layne, the actress who played said character, has said that most of her scenes ended up being cut from the final version of the film.**
I’d also be remiss not to at least mention the press drama beforehand. Entertaining and complex as it was, I think the main things I took away from that after watching the movie was A: I still wonder whether it was all a publicity stunt and B: why wasn’t Kiki Layne present considering how huge a plot point her character is.
That being said, the cinematography is lovely. The 1950’s aesthetic is thorough and very visually pleasing. The soundtrack is perfectly period and something I’ve already listened to repeatedly (although why they didn’t have Harry write an original song for it is beyond me). Once again, I don’t think this was a bad movie or at least not nearly as bad as the critics will have you think. It didn’t feel like I wasted two hours of my life, and I wouldn’t discourage anyone from watching it at least once. It just could have been better.
Would I watch it again? Maybe. To enjoy the aesthetics, watch Florence Pugh act and Harry Styles exist.
Tear level: dry eyes
Watch when: you want something pretty that you don’t have to think too hard about
The Jeni’s Pairing
First of all, this is a trio because there’s a lot going on. We’re getting it in a bowl with a waffle crisp on the side for the aesthetics. Our first scoop is going to be a sensible Coffee with Cream & Sugar for all of the repeated coffee shots and somehow it gives 1950’s domestics. Then we’re adding Savannah Buttermint for all of the elegant dinner parties. Finally, we’re adding Lemon & Blueberries Parfait which is what really gives it that Don’t Worry Darling flair, because even though this flavor is top-notch in another pairing, it just doesn’t quite belong with the mint and coffee foundation we had going and leaves you thinking there could have been a more cohesive option out there.
MORE ON THE FLAVORS:
Open a bag of fresh, roasted coffee beans and breathe in. That rich, earthy aroma is exactly how this flavor tastes. We capture that scent by steeping syrupy and sweet fresh espresso grounds—sourced from the Direct Trade coffee pioneers at Chicago-based Intelligentsia—right into cream. (Making this one of our most labor-intensive flavors to make!) It’s the reason why we say Coffee with Cream & Sugar tastes exactly the way coffee smells—robust and earthy with an undercurrent of caramel. There is no better coffee ice cream in the world.
Jeni has never been a fan of mint ice creams. But when she opened Jeni’s in 2002, she wanted to offer something to the mint-loving crowd. Her challenge: Create a mint ice cream that even she could love. Savannah Buttermint—inspired by those melt-in-your-mouth, pillow mint candies in the restaurants of our grandparents’ generation—was the answer. Minty and very buttery, the white chocolate flecks give the ice cream a pronounced creaminess.
Soft and sophisticated, but surprisingly salty, it’ll conjure up visions of dappled yellow sunlight through Spanish moss in a Savannah square.
Jeni has been making Lemon Buttermilk Frozen Yogurt since the early days of scooping ice cream at a Columbus market. Back then, it wasn’t uncommon to see her top this zesty lemon yogurt with whatever fresh berries she had on hand, like the sweet-tart blueberry sauce mixed into this flavor.
These bright fruits play perfectly with fresh cultured buttermilk and yogurt made just for us by a family dairy in Ohio. The result is creamy frozen yogurt with an almost chewy texture and beyond tart tang. Reminiscent of the best sherbet you’ve ever tasted, this is one of Jeni’s all-time favorite flavors.
