Angelina Jolie completists may feel compelled to sample this minor item from her early portfolio, and it certainly beats Cyborg 2, but if it had starred anybody else it would be of little interest to audiences even just a month after it came out. Danny Aiello plays a fiftyish bachelor who, despite being a little thin on top and a little thick in the middle, is confident of his ability to attract young women. Jolie catches his eye in a coffee shop and calls him over, essentially to put his boasts to the test by having him charm her in front of his friends. The resulting awkwardness is more excruciating than funny and this is part of the problem with this movie: the funny bits mostly are not, and so then what are you left with? Jolie, as she was in many of her early roles, is quirky and winsome here, and Aiello has enough screen presence to anchor the movie, but the script gives them little to do that's genuinely interesting. The film is quite well shot with nice cityscapes around Los Angeles and gorgeous desert scenery once the pair gets on the road, but ultimately there is little here that entertains beyond the charm of the principals. I rather liked this movie, but ten minutes after it was over, I would have been hard pressed to provide specific details on what happened. Driving. There is a LOT of driving. And Jolie takes a shower in a way that is clearly intended to tease Aiello and keep him on the hook. But hey, we know she can be sexy; she became a superstar based on that talent fer cryin' out loud.
Ultimately, it's neither a plot nor a character driven film. It's a mood piece and the mood is sweet, but tame and forgettable. It's okay, but approach with caution.
Ultimately, it's neither a plot nor a character driven film. It's a mood piece and the mood is sweet, but tame and forgettable. It's okay, but approach with caution.