PLAN B: FILM REVIEW
There are few things that would cause more paranoia than convincing yourself you’re pregnant — except, perhaps, thinking you’re pregnant right after losing your virginity to a kid you barely know in the bathroom at your own high school party. That’s exactly what happens to Sunny (Kuhoo Verma) — the protagonist in Natalie Morales’ Plan B. Morales’ comedy film takes the already harrowing and anxiety-induced trek to find the morning-after pill and piles on scenarios with big stakes. Many of them, including lack of access to resources like Planned Parenthood and a ticking time-bomb of 24 hours, are not as ridiculous as they seem. Morales uses a comedic storyline and a vibrant, sweet friendship as a tool to not only support sex-positive messages, but also to show a conflict in identity between who you are and what others expect you to be.
Plan B revolves around two high-school best friends who live in conservative South Dakota: Sunny, a fairly straight-edged girl whose life is largely confined by her mom’s strict gaze, and Lupe (Victoria Morales), the much louder half of the duo. Lupe is not afraid to be unapologetically herself — she is described by some as reckless and bu others as charismatic. At first glance, the two seem like complete opposites, but soon, it becomes clear that they are not entirely dissimilar. Together, Sunny and Lupe live in their own little world — roaming through the school halls making fun of the same people, all the while indulging in the little petty conflicts that make growing up fun.
When Sunny’s mom goes out of town for a weekend, Lupe convinces Sunny to throw a party, and the two use the occasion as an excuse to invite their crushes over. Sunny agrees, and although she ends up losing her virginity at the end of the night, it’s not to who she initially planned. In fact, it’s the opposite. The next morning when she’s peeing, a condom falls out — and with nothing but Lupe, her mom’s car, and a paralyzing fear that she will actually not beat teen pregnancy, the two friends set off on an adventure to find Plan B before its effectiveness wanes.
Plan B holds the viewer’s attention because of how much we root for its characters — one of which could barely fathom kissing a boy a mere 48 hours before taking an overnight road trip to find a pill to prevent ovulation. And in many ways, that’s the point. The morning-after pill is there for the unexpected — and if there’s anything to be learned from your adolescent years, it’s that shit happens. The things that you expect will build character and force you to reflect on your identity never do. It’s usually the potholes you accidentally fall into that take you on the greatest rides — even if the adventure hails bumps and turns along the way.
And while Sunny and Lupe are perfectly non-judgmental around each other, the whole film carries a level of secrecy and feeling of shame. Sunny refuses to ask her mom about what to do, and Sunny and Lupe must travel hours to get to the nearest Planned Parenthood because their local pharmacist refused to give them Plan B. Such conservatism reflects continuous anti-choice sentiment across the nation — as well as the personal shame that individuals feel they must carry when making personal decisions relating to their body. Sunny and Lupe find ways to get through it, but the film as a whole centers around doing a task that should be simple — and shouldn’t even warrant a whole story to complete.
Plan B is undoubtedly colorful and easy to like — and anyone who has ever experienced even the smallest of pregnancy scares will see some of their experience reflected in the film. Sunny and Lupe are the best friends we all hope to have — and their strong friendship assures us that no matter what happens, they will be okay. They have each other to make a big, imperfect world feel much smaller.