B.J. Novak’s Texas Murder Mystery ‘Vengeance’ Can’t Hide Blue State Agenda

When a movie’s producer, writer, director, and leading star are all the same person, one can’t help but take notice. It usually means this person feels particularly passionate about the story being told – so much so that they wear multiple hats just to make sure everything is done exactly to their specifications. Actor B.J. Novak, who most audiences will know from “The Office,” makes his big screen directorial debut with “Vengeance,” a well-meaning comedy that has genuinely funny and touching moments but becomes too caught up in its messaging. This is always the risk that comes when one person has this much control. One wonders how the film’s better elements may have been elevated had Novak brought in a few more creative voices to help further develop his vision. That he opted to go it alone is truly a shame, as the film features some hilarious exchanges, memorable performances, and generally good intentions, making its ultimate third act stumbles all the more disappointing.

The story follows a self-obsessed New York writer named Ben Manalowitz (Novak) as he is trying to break into the narrative podcast field. He has a few grand ideas about America, but he needs a good story to hang them on. He then receives a call from the family of an old hook-up named Abilene Shaw (Lio Tipton), who apparently considered Ben a much bigger part of her life than he did. Abilene has died of an apparent drug overdose, and Ben flies to Texas to attend the funeral. While there, Abilene’s brother, Ty Shaw (Boyd Holbrook), expresses his belief that she didn’t die by accident; rather, he believes she was actually murdered. Ben views Ty’s delusion as a clear indicator of denial, but he is intrigued, nonetheless. He decides that he will stay in Texas and record the story of Ty’s search for his sister’s murderer, hoping to get enough material for a solid true crime podcast. Along the way, Ben learns more about Abilene’s family and their way of live, which underlines his own feelings of emptiness. Things become more complex when Ben realizes that there might actually be more to Ty’s suspicions of foul play than his initial gut feelings.