The Tourist (2010) Review

Article first published as Review: The Tourist (2010) on Technorati.

Movie: The Tourist

Cast: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie
Rating: 2.5/5

I was shocked at seeing The Tourist featured in the Golden Globes 2010. In my opinion it was one of the most disappointing movies of the year especially considering the hype that was created for it. The movie was stale, clichéd and lacked the suspense, thrill and wit required to pull it off.

The Tourist centers around wanted criminal Alexander Pearce. He is wanted for stealing 744 million pounds from a gangster. His case is assigned to Elise Clifton-Ward (Angelina Jolie) who falls in love with him and hence deceives the agency she works for.

Elise now follows Alexander's orders to solve their predicament and evade Scotland Yard. She is asked to choose a random man on a train and lead the police to think he was Pearce. Here enters Frank Tupelo (Johnny Depp), a math teacher from USA. He is chased by the police and the mafia who think he is Pearce following his lunch with Elise in the train. What follows is a love story which sees Elise fall deeply in love for Frank while harboring a strong and passionate affinity for Pearce. The rest is better seen than told so I will keep it to myself!

What bothers me the most about the film is Johnny Depp's character Frank Tupelo. We know that Depp is in preparation for the next Pirates of the Caribbean and unfortunately you can tell that from the shape and mannerisms of Frank Tupelo. It seems that Depp is too pre-occupied with Jack Sparrow as Frank's hair, facial expressions and even his wayward gait reminds you of Jack Sparrow through out the film. Even though it lacks substance, the film was big enough for Johnny Depp to have crafted the character in a better way.

The positive of the film is Angelina Jolie. She has looked her prettiest and sexiest best. Her proper body language and great makeup, especially the red lipstick is very refreshing. She has acted very well and tried to lift the film on her own. Her body charms and enchants the audience and makes you wanna keep looking at her. It is however not enough to make the film a must see.

All in all, the film is overrated and could be passed if you have a better film in possession like The King's Speech or Black Swan. Gone are the days when putting in heavy weights would mean that they would lift the film themselves, a great script is now necessary for a gripping flick.