Ticket To Paradise (Film Review)

In a recent interview for her latest romantic-comedy, Ticket To Paradise, Julia Roberts acknowledged how the once popular genre is less of a staple in today's Hollywood. However, there is proof that when done right (e.g., Crazy Rich Asians), there is an audience ready to welcome a good old-fashioned rom-com. Director Ol Parker (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) is attempting to get it right again with his latest, Ticket To Paradise, which not only brings Roberts back to the genre where her footprint looms large but also sees her reunite with George Clooney. The two form a bickering, divorced couple who travel to Bali, hell-bent on ending the impending marriage of their daughter Lily (Kaitlyn Dever). The film is everything one would expect from a project led by Parker, which stars Clooney and Roberts. It's full of charm and wit, beautiful scenery, and tons (and tons) of clichés. Unfortunately, these elements aren't quite enough to lift this underdeveloped script.

Just as the narrative suggests, Parker's film does not shy away from embracing its fun and ridiculous side, and that's never more evident than the entertaining opening that effectively sets the tone for the combustible relationship between David (Clooney) and Georgia (Roberts). Ticket To Paradise opens with a scene that shows David and Georgia at their respective jobs, telling two slightly different versions of the day they got engaged. The conversations nicely interlink, amusingly providing their contrasting viewpoints while intelligently highlighting the dysfunction that exists between the two. It also sets up Lily's graduation scene well, where, of course, the exes are seated together. They then proceed to bicker non-stop and even try to one-up one another when praising their daughter. One wishes the coherent story building didn't end there, as not long after this, we suddenly find Lily deeply in love with Gede (Maxime Bouttier), and her parents arrive in Bali, trying to stop her big day from happening.

Much like the hit-and-miss first act, the film continues down this same trajectory, shining in moments as opposed to a whole. Fortunately, there are enough strong scenes to keep some audience members entertained, such as the enjoyable beer pong scene. It is one moment that finds the perfect balance between silly, cheesy, and touching, as Clooney and Roberts embody the embarrassing parents by showing off their hilarious dance moves (which they did improvise), leaving Dever's Lily horrified. However, amidst the absurdity, it also manages to provide a rare touching moment of this dysfunctional family finally coming together.

Ticket To Paradise struggles with consistency, but the film's one constant is the immensely charismatic duo of Clooney and Roberts. From the minute go, they showcase their brilliant chemistry, rarely missing an opportunity to make you laugh. Proven by witty dialogues like Roberts' line, “You don't need my help there,” after Clooney's character accuses her of making him look bad. Despite working with very limited material, the two also deliver performances with some emotional depth too. Through subtle actions, such as their inability to speak while expressing their joy during the climax, they add great authenticity and believability to the moment, as well as their relationship. It's easy to see why Parker relies heavily on his two stars, but even Clooney and Roberts aren't enough to paper over all the cracks.

Unfortunately for Clooney and Roberts, what lets this film down is the subpar narrative that ties the events together. Although the film effectively sets up the dynamic between David and Georgia, little else is known about the characters and their backgrounds. Also, the story rushes through the events leading to David and Georgia's arrival in Bali, leaving little time to invest in the journey of our main characters. All of this leads to lazy connections that Clooney or Roberts' characters coincidentally mention later on, instead of giving audiences a visual glimpse into these moments earlier in the film, further emphasising Parker's reliance on his stars to carry this project.

The rom-com has an (expected) reliance upon beautiful scenery and cliché acts like the kooky best friend, over-the-top boyfriend, among other things. However, instead of being woven into the story, these elements feel crammed in, and we are forced to admire the beautiful Australian scenery presented as Bali instead of building up to these supposedly significant moments in the film. More often than not, Ticket To Paradise is style over substance.

Parker's latest rom-com is certainly a mixed bag that may have enough to leave die-hard fans of the genre or Clooney and Roberts happy. However, for those looking for more than just beauty and jokes, this will likely not suffice. In the end, Ticket To Paradise doesn't quite reach paradise, but thanks to its two leads, it crosses the finish line.

Ticket To Paradise hits cinemas on Tuesday September 20