Now available to rent or purchase on VOD services like Prime Video, Emily the Criminal is a remarkable point on the arc of Aubrey Plaza’s career. We likely first recognized her in Parks and Recreation or Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, cocked an eyebrow at Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever (she was the voice!), realized she was far funnier than Dirty Grandpa and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates deserved, and watched with fascination as she explored darker, more complicated characters in indie dramas Ingrid Goes West and Black Bear. Now she’s in nearly every shot of Emily the Criminal, a microdrama fueled by Millennial disillusionment, and it’s not an eye-opener, because we pretty much knew she could anchor a heavy ship like this – it’s more of an eye-widener, and her best vehicle yet.
The Gist: An older white guy interviews Emily (Plaza) for a job – something to do with keeping hospital records. He says he hasn’t run a background check, and asks if she has anything on her criminal record. A DUI, she says, a youthful mistake. He then pulls out the background check detailing an aggravated assault conviction. Who caught who in a lie? We can’t help but empathize with Emily – he fibbed first. Entrapped her with a duplicitous, demeaning, condescending power move. She walks out, but gives him a piece of her mind first. We’ll eventually learn she isn’t one to let someone else have the final word.
When did the assault happen? Recently? A few years…
