The “Wait, She’s Still Got It” Factor
We’ve spent twenty years watching Rachel McAdams be the “it girl,” the “crying girl” in romances, or the “smart journalist.” But Send Help works because she finally gets to be unhinged.
She plays Linda, this awkward office worker who everyone ignores. The reason Rachel is perfect for this is that she has this “neighborly” energy—you look at her and think she’s harmless. So, when the plane crashes and she starts using her corporate spreadsheets and Survivor knowledge to basically become a jungle dictator, it’s a total blast to watch.
Why she nails it:
• She can play “Invisible”: Most A-list stars look like stars even when they’re playing “losers.” Rachel actually manages to look like the person in the office you’d forget to CC on an email. It makes her “snapping” way more satisfying.
• The Red Eye Vibes: If you remember her in Red Eye, she was a total badass under pressure. Send Help feels like that, but with Sam Raimi’s weird, dark humor. She’s funny, but she’s also genuinely terrifying when she starts outsmarting her boss (played by Dylan O’Brien).
• The Survivalist “Glow-up”: Watching her go from eating a sad tuna sandwich at her desk to hunting for food on a deserted island is the character arc of the year. She doesn’t just survive; she thrives in the chaos, and you can tell she’s having the time of her life playing someone a little bit crazy.
The Bottom Line
Rachel McAdams is the “secret weapon” of the movie. Without her, it’s just another survival flick. With her, it’s a hilarious, bloody commentary on how the person you underestimate at work is probably the one who could survive the apocalypse better than you.
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