In equal parts a fun-loving road trip and equally a serious and touching tale about the reality of acquiring a contraceptive pill at a young age, Plan B is a genuinely entertaining film. More than just a coming-of-age buddy movie, it is a joyful friendship comedy and drama, bolstered by a stirring and deeply important message at the end.
The story follows 17-year-old Sunny (Kuhoo Verma), a shy high-school girl desperate to win the heart of the popular boy she likes, Hunter (Michael Provost). While her mother is out of town, she throws a party at her house with the help of her best friend, Lupe (Victoria Moroles). What starts out as an innocent scheme to grab the attention of Hunter soon unfolds into a regrettable sexual encounter with another boy. It is not long before Sunny and Lupe are forced to take a road trip in search of a Plan B pill which introduces them to many interesting people and makes them face various obstacles that are unexpected and fun.
If there’s one thing about Plan B that’s totally irresistible, it’s the leading performances from Kuhoo Verma and Victoria Moroles. A seemingly odd couple of friends at first, the pair have a good Thelma & Louise dynamic between them, while also standing out as independent individuals. The film follows the ups and downs of their complex friendship, and both Verma and Moroles impress hugely with immense likeability and real dramatic resonance. Moroles stands out as so much more than just a sidekick, as the story seems to set her up early on, combining both a brilliantly funny side with a passionate performance. Verma, meanwhile, puts in a genuinely fantastic performance, with wonderful on-screen energy throughout that makes her character an utter joy to watch.
The concept of this movie is no different from other recent coming-of-age stories, particularly Unpregnant, which also follows two best friends who take a road trip for an abortion. Plan B, however, does not include the entire abortion process as Sunny is only in search of the morning-after pill. The entire story pans out in an extremely delightful way nonetheless. Apart from the jokes and fun side-plots, a more serious message about the realities of young women trying to acquire contraceptive methods takes precedence, as we see the frustration in Verma’s character at the enormous lengths she has to go to just to get a simple pill. It’s a sobering truth that isn’t recognized enough, and the film deals with it in a unique and memorable way, with the chaos of the road trip serving as a clear example of just how inaccessible a simple procedure can be.
On the other hand, the film also falls short in a number of areas. It seems like the actual goal of Sunny and Lupe falls by the wayside in the story; it feels like more of a destination or a plot point than something emotionally compelling. There are also a bunch of clichés, for example partying, drinking, and other young-adult activities which are fairly common in coming-of-age stories. Such events do not add anything particularly new to the genre, so are fairly overlooked. You can see most of the time what’s coming and some characters have confusing personalities during the film. A number of tumultuous events further intensify the chaotic nature of the film, as the girls are forced to go to parties and abandoned playgrounds on their way. However, this does not diminish the film’s narrative in any way because it is an enjoyable watch nevertheless.
As a buddy comedy, it is great to see how the film banks on its pair’s excellent chemistry and delights with energetic and consistent humor from start to finish. Despite being awkwardly quirky and topsy-turvy, it has a wonderful fun-loving side which, coupled with the scale of the road trip the pair embark on, makes it an extremely beguiling rollercoaster ride. You’ll be laughing and smiling right the way through here, but it’s the way that the film finishes that makes it really stand out. The film’s final few moments serve as a powerful and necessary explanation of how parents must support their daughters in such situations and that it isn’t something to be scared or ashamed of. It’s a wonderful way to finish the film that shows the filmmakers really care about the core message, despite throwing in some fun elements which make the story compelling.
