Let’s be real for a second. If you look at the long list of Anna Kendrick movies, most people are going to point to Pitch Perfect or A Simple Favor as the peak of her "unhinged but relatable" energy. But there’s this weird, bloody, high-octane anomaly from 2015 called Mr. Right that basically lives in its own universe. Honestly, if you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out on Kendrick at her most feral.
It’s not a "good" movie in the traditional Academy Award sense. It’s a chaotic, screwball action-romance where Sam Rockwell dances while murdering people and Kendrick realizes she might actually be a sociopath. And somehow, it works.
What is Mr. Right Even About?
Basically, the plot sounds like a fever dream. Martha (played by Kendrick) is a total mess. She just got dumped, she’s drinking way too much, and she’s looking for a sign from the universe. Enter Francis (Sam Rockwell), a guy who wears a red clown nose and asks her out in a convenience store.
The catch? He’s a legendary hitman who has decided to stop killing for money and start killing the people who try to hire him.
He tells Martha this. Like, immediately. He says, "I just had to step out and kill a guy," and she just laughs because she thinks it’s "quirky" banter. It’s not. He really did kill that guy. Most of the movie is Martha slowly realizing her new boyfriend is a mass murderer and then deciding—kinda shockingly—that she’s actually into it.
Why the Chemistry Works
You’ve got two of the most charismatic actors in Hollywood just vibing. Sam Rockwell is doing his trademark "I'm the coolest guy in the room even though I'm weird" thing. Anna Kendrick is doing her "I'm vibrating with anxiety" thing. When they collide, it’s magic.
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The director, Paco Cabezas, apparently gave them a ton of room to improvise. There’s a scene where they’re messing around with a violent kitten, and you can tell they’re just trying to make each other laugh. It feels authentic in a way that big-budget rom-coms usually don’t.
The Weird "Flow" Superpower Thing
One of the strangest parts of Mr. Right—and something critics absolutely hated—is this concept of "flow." Francis explains to Martha that he can see the "current" of the world, which allows him to dodge bullets and catch knives without looking.
It’s basically a low-budget superpower.
He spends the movie teaching Martha how to tap into this, and by the end, she’s catching knives and taking down trained mercenaries. Is it realistic? Not even a little bit. Is it fun? 100%. It gives the movie a comic-book feel that separates it from other Anna Kendrick movies. It’s less Up in the Air and more Scott Pilgrim vs. the World with more blood.
Why Critics Hated It (and Why You Shouldn't Care)
When it came out in 2016 (after a 2015 festival run), critics weren't kind. It sits at a pretty mediocre score on Rotten Tomatoes. The main complaint was that the tone is all over the place. One minute they’re having a cute date with hot chocolate, and the next, someone is getting a kitchen knife through the throat.
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But honestly? That’s the point.
The movie was written by Max Landis (who wrote Chronicle and American Ultra). Say what you want about him—and there is a lot to say regarding his personal controversies and the allegations that effectively ended his career—but he has a specific style. He likes writing about neurotic people who find out they are capable of extreme violence.
- The Humor: It’s very "2015 Tumblr" humor. Snarky, fast, and a little bit "random."
- The Action: Surprisingly well-choreographed. Rockwell actually trained for the fight scenes to make the "dancing" style look legit.
- The Support: Tim Roth is there doing a weird Southern-ish accent as a villain/mentor, and RZA shows up as a hitman who just wants to do a good job.
How it Fits into the Anna Kendrick Filmography
If you look at the timeline, Mr. Right came out right when Kendrick was transitioning from "supporting actress in Twilight" to "bona fide lead."
She was already the face of Pitch Perfect, but this movie showed she could carry an action flick. It’s a precursor to her role in The Accountant with Ben Affleck or her directorial debut Woman of the Hour. She has this specific ability to play characters who are "a little off," and Martha in Mr. Right is arguably the "off-est" of them all.
Real Talk: Is it Worth Watching?
If you want a serious crime thriller, no. You’ll hate it.
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If you want a traditional rom-com where they learn a lesson about communication, also no.
But if you want to see Anna Kendrick throw a chemistry-filled tantrum while Sam Rockwell backflips over a grenade, it is the best 90 minutes you’ll spend this week. It’s the definition of a "streaming gem" that you find at 11:00 PM and end up loving.
Finding Other Movies Like Mr. Right
If you finish this and need more of that specific "violent but cute" energy, you’ve got a few options. American Ultra (also written by Landis) is the obvious sibling. Then there’s Grosse Pointe Blank, which is the 90s gold standard for the "hitman with a heart of gold" trope.
But for pure Kendrick fans, the next logical step is A Simple Favor. It has that same dark edge but with a much higher budget and better outfits.
Actionable Insights for Movie Night:
- Check the VOD services: Since it had a very limited theatrical run (only about 35 theaters!), it lives almost exclusively on digital platforms like Netflix or Prime Video depending on your region.
- Watch for the "Dancing": Pay attention to Sam Rockwell’s movement. He famously incorporates his real-life dance skills into his fight choreography.
- Don't skip the credits: The chemistry between the leads extends into the bloopers and the general vibe of the film's ending.
- Pair it with a "Quirky" Double Feature: It goes incredibly well with Scott Pilgrim vs. the World if you want a Kendrick marathon that avoids her more "serious" Oscar-bait stuff.
Mr. Right isn't going to change your life, but it might change how you look at Anna Kendrick movies. She’s not just the girl who sings about cups; she’s a girl who can sell you on the idea that falling in love with a serial killer is actually a pretty decent Saturday night.