Vacationing from Oneself: A weirdly quiet getaway

Is it worth your time?

If you like movies that feel like a dusty book you found in an attic, Vacationing from Oneself is a weirdly charming watch. It’s not for the action crowd, and if you need a fast-paced plot to stay awake, stay far away. But for the folks who enjoy watching a suit-and-tie type try to act like a 'normal' person in a rural setting, it’s got a strange, dry humor that sticks.

The whole premise is just a guy trying to hide from his own life. We’ve all been there, right? Wanting to just check into a place where nobody knows your name and the biggest problem is a lukewarm cup of tea.

The Sanitarium Vibe

The sanitarium scenes are where the movie finds its heartbeat. There’s this one moment where Walter Steinbeck is trying to act casual in the garden, and he looks so uncomfortable it’s actually kind of sweet. He’s clearly allergic to relaxation.

The supporting cast feels like a collection of people who have been sitting in those wicker chairs for twenty years. They have this way of staring at nothing that feels remarkably real.

• The lighting in the hallways is a bit too dim, like the building itself is tired.
• There’s a cat that appears in three scenes and does absolutely nothing. I loved that cat.
• The dialogue is snappy, but it feels like they’re all talking past each other.

Comparison Thoughts

It’s a far cry from the slapstick energy you’d find in Horse Play. While that film is busy tripping over its own feet, Vacationing from Oneself wants to sit in the corner and nurse a headache. It’s less like Ring Up the Curtain and more like a quiet afternoon nap that gets interrupted by a mild crisis.

I found myself wondering if the businessman was ever actually 'incognito' or if everyone just knew and was being polite. The movie doesn't really care to answer that. It just lets the ambiguity hang there like a damp towel.

Is the ending satisfying? Honestly, I don't know. It just sort of stops. Like they ran out of film stock or the director decided it was time for dinner. But in a way, that felt more honest than a big dramatic payoff.

Sometimes you watch a movie and realize the best part isn't the story, but just the way the light hits the floorboards in the dining hall. This is one of those movies. Don't overthink it.