I’m not entirely sure why writer-director Jeff Baena decided to make a film as misguided as “Spin Me Round.” The film deals with Amber, a dedicated restaurant chain manager (Allison Brie) who wins an all-expenses trip to her company's gorgeous "institute" in Italy. Her friend (Ego Nwodim) gives her the idea of finding love in the Tuscan sun.
Amber is obsessed with the restaurant chain's wealthy and charismatic owner, and manages to “frequent” him. Obsession turns into disappointment, and a sudden friendship with … Aubrey Plaza? Amidst the goofy nightime partying, Baena also adds in a murder-mystery for good measure.
"Spin Me Round” is purposefully eccentric, revelling in its absurdities, ultimately crossing a line of hipster tweee that nixes the enjoyment. Not even the always-reliable Plaza can save this one. Ditto Brie, who was excellent in Baena’s previous film, the underrated “Horse Girl,” a weirdly unique take on mental illness.
What were left with is something predictable, frustrating and incoherent — I lost count of the countless storylines that get quickly forgotten, ignored, or sabotaged in Baena’s schizoid screenplay. [D]