A chef starts a revolt against the wealthy people he serves. Does that premise sound familiar? We’re not talking about the Anya Taylor-Joy vehicle The Menu; we’re talking about Coup!, a new comedy by Joseph Schuman and Austin Stark that premiered at last year’s Venice Film Festival. Although Coup! has a strong premise and a talented cast, its dark humor or themes don’t go far enough to make a lasting impression as a social satire.

Coup! Review

Coup! is a satirical comedy following a mischievous cook who takes a job as a private chef for a wealthy family on an idyllic seaside estate as the world shuts down due to the outbreak of the Spanish flu in 1918. The premise seems like it would be ripe for hijinks, but the conflict is much tamer than one would expect. 

It’s admittedly difficult — if not impossible — to watch Coup! and not think of the massive global pandemic and collective isolation we all suffered through just a few years ago. Whether or not this was Schuman and Stark’s intention isn’t exactly clear, but the film does miss a lot of opportunities they created by setting it amid the Spanish Flu epidemic. 

For example, the movie asks a few questions about the disparity between the upper and lower-class experiences in a crisis like this, but the film largely leaves this theme underdeveloped. One of the biggest issues with the movie is that its satire doesn’t go far enough, pulling back on its jokes before it can say anything particularly provocative.  

The other difficult-to-stomach thing about Coup! is how it seems intent on practicing bothsidesism. It’s clear that Magnussen’s member of the elite is not exactly supposed to be likable, especially in the later acts of the film, but Sarsgaard’s character is presented in such an exaggerated way that the actions of his opponent almost feel justified at times.

The main reason to see Coup! is Peter Sarsgaard’s performance, which reaffirms his talent and versatility as an actor. He manages to be funny, charming, and off-putting all at once — precisely the mixture the role calls for. Even when the script starts to spin its wheels, Sarsgaard is able to keep things entertaining and engaging.

As for Magnussen, his performance is much less interesting. For the first half of the movie, he’s playing somewhat against type, with a turn that’s much quieter than his typical repertoire. As he becomes more unhinged over the course of the runtime, it starts to come much closer to the usual type of manic performance we’re used to seeing from the character actor.

What is missing from Coup! to set it apart from other class satires — of which there have been a number of great ones in recent years — is a sharp, witty sense of humor. The film’s situational comedy is never able to ascend beyond being merely amusing. It’s able to get a chuckle or two but lacks a tinge of darkness that could have made it truly memorable.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the budget’s limitations are obvious, but Schuman and Stark make the most despite their restrictions. The premise allows it to be mostly confined to a single location, but the production design and costumes aren’t at the level that one would hope for from a period piece with an A-list cast like this.

Is Coup! worth watching?

Coup! is a decent comedy that is elevated by a committed performance from Peter Sarsgaard. Although the movie wears its premise thin rather quickly, Sarsgaard’s commitment to the role keeps things interesting. Although it’s not the great class satire it had the potential to be, Coup! has enough strengths to make it worth watching for 98 minutes.

Coup! hits theaters on August 2.

6/10

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