Starring: Tom Hanks, Alexander Black, Sarita Choudhury
Directed By: Tom Twyker
Running Time: 98 Minutes
BBFC Certificate: 12A
UK Release Date: 20th May, 2016
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a film starring Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks, although Bridge of Spies (2015) is on my list to watch. The last film I can recall was Cloud Atlas back in 2012, which due to mixed reviews and lack of marketing seemed to bomb at the box office. However that film is definitely worth a watch and best done at home due to the complex intertwining storyline and a runtime of almost 3 hours.
Hanks has reunited with Cloud Atlas co-director Tom Tykwer for another film based on an international bestseller. As per most films I review, I knew next to nothing about this one, and was initially hopeful to be surprised by an independent film about self-discovery (as per the film’s poster) with the visual flare of Tykwer’s 1998 film Run Lola Run.
Tom Hanks plays Alan, a salesman whose life is in turmoil after his divorce and a failed business. He is sent to Saudi Arabia to pitch a contract to the country’s King in order to provide the IT infrastructure (I presume, it’s not fully explained) to a coastal city that is currently in development. As expected not a lot goes right and he copes the best he can in the face of adversity.
Along the way he finds himself and his strengths, meets a few interesting and sometimes challenging characters, a potential love interest and a hilarious taxi driver. It does feature a hologram for the King, but that’s not too vital to the plot or as important as the title suggests.
Now I wasn’t completely won over by this film, as it is good but nothing too special. It’s also important to point out that it isn’t a bad film and features a few fun characters, scenarios and a lot of quirky humour.
Tom Hanks plays it safe as the vulnerable everyman who evolves and grows with the challenges set before him, yet doesn’t shine as much as in previous roles. Alan has to deal with these challenges in a foreign land with a different culture, and thankfully the presentation of Muslims isn’t too stereotypical and a far cry from what we see most of the time in Western media. Unfortunately this film doesn’t include any Arabic subtitles, which would have added to the depth to the world presented and the humour of the characters.
One such stand out character is Yousef (Alexander Black), an outgoing and talkative taxi driver who repeatability helps Alan in times of need. This comic relief is a good balance to Alan’s seriousness and it’s a shame that the rest of the supporting characters aren’t as fleshed out, and as such are ultimately forgettable.
However Alan’s salesman personality turns into a more honest demeanour as the film progresses and his life isn’t as bad as it initially seems. I don’t really want to spoil the catalyst for this, but let’s just say that one too many unexpected issues arise, leading him to encounter Zahra (Sarita Choudhury); an encounter which could change his life for the better.
Overall it has the feel of an independent road movie that doesn’t really go anywhere: but more so just goes with the flow, and then it just sort of ends without too much of a climax.
There are a few moments of visual flare which don’t fit the overall tone of the film and I believe that if it continued to have this surreal quality it would have been a better film, if not a bit retina melting.
It tries to balance drama and comedy with hints of poverty and socialism, but mixed with these out of place visceral moments the film has an overall muddled tone, and as such will be forgotten by most viewers as it doesn’t stand out against others in its class.
Overall Verdict: Although this is an enjoyable and often funny film with a standard performance from Hanks, unfortunately it has too few standout moments and a muddled tone. It is worth a watch but may be best suited for home.
Reviewer: George Elcombe
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