Binge-Watcher's Take: Chris Pine's "Poetic Experiment" That Doesn't Quite Land
Okay, so, look—everybody knows how much I love Chris Pine. I mean, who doesn't? The guy's charisma could light up the darkest corners of the galaxy, and his acting chops? Top-tier. But, and hear me out on this, Pine took a big swing with his latest project. He teamed up with a buddy to write and direct a film that, honestly, feels more like you're reading a novel than watching a movie. Intrigued? I was too.
The cast? Stellar. You've got the iconic Danny DeVito, the always brilliant Annette Bening, and of course, Pine himself. A recipe for success, right? The characters are quirky and eccentric in that indie film kind of way, and the setting, while charming, screams "art house" from the get-go. You're watching and thinking, “Hey, this could be a hidden gem.”
But here’s where things get... rocky.
While the performances are top-notch and the character quirks are delightful, the plot? Not so much. It's one of those films that focuses more on style and atmosphere, and less on, you know, a compelling storyline. At times, it feels more like an artsy, poetic meditation than a fully fleshed-out film. Which, I’ll admit, might work for some people—if you're into those slow-burn, introspective, what-am-I-watching kind of movies.
But, spoiler alert: by the end, you're left feeling unsatisfied. Like, really unsatisfied. Like when you order a fancy salad and you're still hungry afterward. It’s good for what it is, but it just doesn’t fill you up the way you hoped.
I remember reading that the movie had a rough production cycle and faced multiple hurdles during release—maybe it was the lingering post-COVID uncertainty, or the struggles of whether it would go theatrical or straight to streaming. Whatever it was, you can kind of feel it in the final product. Some scenes hit the mark, but others just don't come together.
At the end of the day, I wanted to love this movie. I tried to love it. But sometimes, even the best intentions don’t always lead to the best results. If I had to rate it using my own system (which is scientifically unquantifiable, by the way), I’m sorry to say it lands in the “binge never” category.
It’s one of those films that might make you nod thoughtfully and say, “I get it,” but you'll probably never go back to it. But hey, if you’re into abstract, art-house fare with a talented cast, maybe this one's for you. As for me? I'm just farting out some artistic words here, trying to make sense of a film that, for all its promise, never quite delivers.
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