The Sun Never Sets

When it comes to dating in the modern age, things can get a little messy. Then again, relationships themselves aren’t exactly clean either. In movies, though, relationships almost always seem to work out, no matter how complicated they get. In fact, those tidy wrap-ups even have a name: the “Hollywood ending.” Growing up watching those kinds of endings probably shaped the way I look at relationships—maybe even cursed me a little—but not every movie aims for that kind of conclusion.

Joe Swanberg’s new film, The Sun Never Sets, offers a slice-of-life look at relationships that feels refreshingly real, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Alaska.

Wendy (Dakota Fanning) is a construction site manager with a real “live in the moment” attitude. She’s currently in a relationship with Jack (Jake Johnson), a divorced man with two kids. While their hobbies don’t always line up, they seem to have a genuinely happy relationship. That is, until Jack decides to throw a massive rock into the pond and suggests that Wendy should date other people to make sure he’s really what she wants.

Jack isn’t looking to see anyone else himself—he just wants Wendy to be absolutely sure about him.

Naturally, Wendy is confused and pushes back, but Jack has made up his mind. Eventually, she agrees to go on a date with a friend who’s had a thing for her forever. While out at a bar with him, she unexpectedly runs into Chuck (Cory Michael Smith), an ex-boyfriend who had moved away but has recently returned to Alaska.

And just like that, things get complicated.

Wendy and Chuck quickly fall back into old habits, and when Jack finds out, he suddenly realizes that maybe his big idea wasn’t so brilliant after all. What follows is a relationship adventure that, at times, felt a little too real—but as a viewer, it’s incredibly compelling to watch.

Written and directed by Swanberg, The Sun Never Sets is a thoughtful look at our inability to truly know what we want at any given moment. I could easily see a bit of myself in Jack—someone who thinks he has everything figured out until he suddenly doesn’t. All of the characters feel like real adults trying to balance passion, stability, and uncertainty, and we get a front-row seat to just how difficult that can be.

Watching the mess unfold is a lot more enjoyable than being in it myself.

Part of what makes the film feel so authentic is that Swanberg based it on experiences from his own life—even some of the moments that stand out the most. I think most of us have reached a similar crossroads at some point, and Swanberg almost forces us to reflect on our own choices.

Another thing that really makes the movie work is its loose approach to storytelling. Swanberg provided the cast with an outline and allowed them to improvise much of the dialogue. The result is a film that feels incredibly natural and lived-in.

The entire cast shines, but make no mistake—this is Wendy’s movie, and Fanning is fantastic. Not only does she have strong chemistry with both of her co-stars, but she’s also completely magnetic on screen. It’s hard to take your eyes off her.

This is a Joe Swanberg film through and through, and longtime fans will absolutely appreciate it. At the same time, it may very well bring him some new ones—which is great, because we could definitely use more Swanberg movies.

This one really stuck with me. It checks all the right boxes for the kind of film I enjoy, and I can’t wait for more people to see it.