Culture Blues

Film: A Perfect Getaway

A Perfect Getaway could have been more accurately titled How to Muck Up a Decent Premise and Waste the Talents of Timothy Olyphant, Steve Zahn, Some Pretty Ladies and the ‘Lost’ Soundstage.

While that might seem harsh, I’m actually much more upset about what could have been than what actually is. As it stands, A Perfect Getaway is a silly and unsurprising thriller that at least manages to not bore the viewer. Deadwood’s Timothy Olyphant provides ample laid back humor and just the right amount of menace. Steve Zahn isn’t allowed to do enough of the things he is good at. Milla Jovovich and Kiele Sanchez bring believable vulnerability and fear to their roles.

The biggest success of the film is that it makes some place as bright and beautiful as Hawaii seem threatening. This is a thriller that is almost completely set during the day. A rarity for a genre that generally uses shadows as a crutch. Director David Twohy seems to be continuing the fascination with the dangers of darkness AND light that he first explored with his two Riddick films. It works well here and is basically the only thing that makes A Perfect Getaway different from thrillers we have seen dozens of times before.

As far as plot goes, it’s tough to say much without possibly giving things away, but the film spends too much time setting up red herrings and casting suspicions on its characters while simultaneously winking at the audience. The filmmakers neglect for too long the aspects of their plot that could have made for an exciting and rewarding climax. A Perfect Getaway boldly attempts a balancing act that it simply does not have the dexterity or guile to pull off. By the way, if you’ve already realized that the title has two meanings, you’re too smart to be surprised by this movie.