Ani FaNelli (Mila Kunis) has a reputable position at a glossy magazine and is on the hunt for a promotion. Her wedding is around the corner, and she appears to have her entire life in order. That is until a director of a crime documentary approaches her to tell her side of a tragic school shooting that happened when she was a teenager. Although reluctant at first, Ani decides to reveal the truth of the circumstances behind the incident, forcing her to confront secrets that threaten her carefully constructed life.

Alongside Kunis in the cast of Luckiest Girl Alive are Chiara Aurelia, Finn Wittrock, Connie Britton, Justine Lupe, Jennifer Beals, Scoot McNairy, and more. It’s directed by Mike Barker and based on the novel by Jessica Knoll.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

Adapting the Novel by Jessica Knoll

“I read the book and I really enjoyed it. It’s a really important story. I was terrified of taking it on,” admitted Barker, “then I met Jessica… and having met her and having spoken to her about it… we really bonded… and I really felt that the journey the main character takes was fascinating.”

Barker continued, explaining that the movie is very similar to the book, although they did make some structural changes based on the medium of film versus a novel, allowing for some things to be said without actually saying it out loud.

“I made sure that she was with me all the time,” said Barker, “she was always at the backstop because you can see the film, tonally, it’s a tricky film. And so to walk that line, because this is ultimately a film that’s entertaining in essence. Mila Kunis has great comedic timing and Jessica has some very comic writing, and yet you’re still dealing with very difficult underlying subjects.”

Mila Kunis in Luckiest Girl Alive

     Netflix

“Mila’s not just the actress, she’s also a producer on the film… Mila was quite fundamental in the creative process before she even turned up on set. And on the set, she’s such a great spirit. She’s such a beautiful person, and she’s got such a great big hear. I think there’s something inherently attractive and watchable about her before she even starts thinking about acting,” said Barker.

When she does start acting, viewers can see her talent shine through, especially considering how complicated of a role it is that she’s playing, doing so with a delicacy that reinforces Barker’s comments.

“It’s a very complicated role,” explained Barker, “because there are two people playing that role. She’s not just playing the person in the moment who is acting opposite another actor, she’s also narrating the film, so she has to give a second performance at the same time… it’s a very complicated thing for her to do, and she just did it so brilliantly. The thing about Ani, the character, she’s quite spiky, has attitudes, potentially unsympathetic, and I think that Mila navigates that in such a beautiful way that she makes her feel incredibly real, and make us want to root for her.”

Audience Takeaways from Luckiest Girl Alive

With a film covering themes like Luckiest Girl Alive does, audiences are sure to feel impacted and take meaning from it. Barker was expecting it to make an impact, though he didn’t foresee it reaching all the demographics that it does.

“One of the interesting things, when we were testing the film, was who it affected the most. You expect it to affect the young women who have experienced any kind of similar lived experience or trauma. But actually, also, there were a lot of young guys who watched the film who really saw it and thought to themselves, ‘I’ve been in this situation,’ with a drunk girlfriend or a friend, somebody on the other side of the room. I think it affected them in quite a profound way, in a way that I don’t think any of us were really planning. I’m actually quite pleased and proud of that aspect. Some of the feedback from the younger guys who watch this film was pretty powerful.”

Luckiest Girl Alive will be released in select theaters on September 30, 2022, before its streaming release on October 7 on Netflix.