ALOHA (2015 - ROMANCE / COMEDY / DRAMA) **1/2 out of ***** OR 5 out of 10
(Just keep repeating to yourself: "it's set in Hawaii... It's set in Hawaii... it's set in Hawaii...")
CAST: Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray, Danny McBride, John Krasinski, Alec Baldwin, Danielle Rose Russell, Jaeden Lieberher, Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele, Ivana Milicevic.
DIRECTOR: Cameron Crowe
WARNING: Some SPOILERS and some gorgeous scenery and waster stars - straight ahead
IT'S LIKE THIS: If you're looking for proof that just because you live in Paradise, doesn't mean all is pineapple-margaritas and beach parties, all you have to do is watch our next review, ALOHA. Just ask its hero, Brian Gilchrest (Bradley Cooper). Big Bri used to be a big-shot military contractor whose "rising star" was brutally cut short by an accident in Afghanistan. Or something. Anyway, Big Bri was not only injured but was also profesionally-damaged by the incident, and is given a chance at redemption and a return to his former "Top-Dick" status within the Department of Defense. It involves launching some sort of satellite out of Honolulu for some billionaire named Carson Welch (Bill Murray). Or something.
Unfortunately, Brian has to also contend with his ex-girlfriend Tracy (Rachel McAdams), who is now married to soft-spoken (and I do mean soft-spoken) Air Force pilot John "Woody" Woodside (John Krasinski). Clearly, Tracy still has some sort of torch for Brian and needs to get some, um, stuff off her chest. Then, as if Big Bri didn't have enough female trouble, he is assigned a babysitter/watchdog in the form of hyper-energetic Air Force captain Allison Ng (Emma Stone), who claims to be a quarter Chinese and a quarter Hawaiian, despite looking as white and blond and blue-eyed as, um, Emma Stone.
Will Brian be able to pull of his mission? Will he redeem himself in the eyes of the asshole Colonel who is running the operation who looks an awful lot like Alec Baldwin? Will he be torn between Tracy and Allison? Who will he choose? Or will he just say, "FUCK IT!" - and find someone else on Waikiki beach to bang?
Head for Waikiki, Bri...
FINAL ANALYSIS: In past reviews, we've talked about the "Deceptively Awesome Trailer Syndrome." This is when a film has such a great trailer that wows audiences, but then the movie itself turns out to be very disappointing. It soon becomes clear that some wizard trailer editor took all the good parts of the film and craftily spliced them all together to resemble something wonderful. Only problem is the full product is decidedly less so.
Such is the case with ALOHA. The trailer, put simply, is probably my favorite from this past year. With tantalizing shots of talented and gorgeous folks like Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Emma Stone, John Krasinski, Alec Baldwin, and Bill Murray, all set against the lovely backdrop of Oahu, along the stirring tunes of the awesome song "First" by Cold War Kids. The preview promises a film that is equal part brains, heart, humor, and sexy. Unfortunately, the actual movie falls far short of that.
The cast can't be faulted. They do wonders with the roles they are given, especially the women. Emma Stone, who is one of my top 5 favorite actresses, brings charisma and energy to a role that has proven to be controversial: a clearly-Caucasian woman who claims to be part-Asian/Hawaiian. I honestly think that this was meant to be ironic, that someone as fair as Allison Ng has a father who is Chinese/Hawaiian, and was intended to be somewhat of a running joke throughout the movie. Unfortunately, it wasn't taken that way. However, Stone plays the role with dignity and vivacity - and almost sells the character with her trademark blend of sass, smarts, and sexiness.
Rachel McAdams is another one of my fave actresses, and she especially takes meager material and makes it compelling here. Tracy Woodside is an underwritten character, but McAdams manages to suggest layers and complexity in her scenes. Listen for how Tracy's voice quavers behind the composure during her confrontation scenes with Bradley Cooper's Brian. These scenes crackle with unspoken emotions and things left unsaid. Points to McAdams for filling in between the lines to make this role be more than it might have been in the hands of a lesser actress.
The men are all solid, but again, are also working with underwritten roles. Cooper, in particular, isn't given much to work with as Brian. Ostensibly, Brian is one of those brilliant, talented, driven, workaholics who works miracles with projects, and whose chilly intensity intimidates those around him, but who also has a sexy, playful side. However, Cooper is so naturally likable and laidback that while he gets the playful and sexy side down, he doesn't quite nail the chilly and intense sides which is crucial to making this character fascinating. As a result, his chemistry and interactions with Allison Ng and Stone is somewhat compromised, as Ng/Stone is meant to be an playful Yin to his no-nonsense Yang.
Alec Baldwin, Bill Murray, Danny McBride, and John Krasinski all get amusing bits, but in the end they are just additional elements to a film that already feels over-stuffed. ALOHA doesn't know whether it's primarily a love story/redemption tale, quirky comedy about the military and its corporate connections, or simply a travelogue comedy set in Hawaii. While it's fine to be all of those, one thread needed to be the main focus - and that should've been the love triangle between Brian, Allison, and Tracy. Writer-director Camerone Crowe tries to give importance to all these elements, but only ends up making them all half-baked. Particularly, the love story - which is a real shame.
By contrast, Crowe's previous effort from 2006, the much-maligned Orlando Bloom-Kirsten Dunst starrer ELIZABETHTOWN, knew first and foremost that it was about a person's fall from grace and how he is redeemed and saved by the love of a quirky, uncoventional, charismatic, and wise other person. I actually quite liked ELIZABETHTOWN despite Bloom's miscasting. Compared to ALOHA, that movie is a much more satisfying experience.
Oh, well... We'll always have that wonderful ALOHA trailer that promised a soaring romantic comedy that we never quite get. Please find that trailer again below, along with a video of the terrific song "First" by the Cold War Kids, which is the trailer's theme. And, to compare, we also have the trailer for ALOHA's fraternal twin, ELIZABETHTOWN, also by writer/director Cameron Crowe. While it's not perfect, it's still streets ahead of ALOHA.
ALOHA - **1/2 out of ***** OR 5 out of 10
ALOHA Trailer - ****1/2 out of ***** OR 9 out of 10
