Lonely Planet
While it is not the same as the travelling literary guide by the very popular chain, this book by Susannah Grant is rather more about lonely souls around a crossroads in an unspecified location in Morocco than about the destination itself. During a poorly organized retreat, a professional writer Katherine (played by Laura Dern) attempts to get back on track with her book after struggling with her writing for several months. At this time, she is also still trying to recover from the effects of a break up from an old partner in pursuit of getting started on her book. Furthermore, the retreat also participates a newcomer in the literary world: Lily Kemp played by Diana Silvers, who arrives at the retreat with her non-writing partner Owen, played by Liam Hemsworth. He sits still in the background while she interacts with other authors, delights in their attention, and takes for granted that he is there just to look after her. Rather than waiting for an invitation to take part, he starts wandering off and makes friends with Katherine, and possibly more.
Grant’s second film, after her feature debut “Catch and Release” offers much to be desired. The major love story in the film is portrayed poorly. Within the confines of Grant’s script, Dern is reduced to merely going through the motions of a standard romantic comedy while, the half hearted attempts so where her character doesn’t seem to be in that much enamor with this guy. She can and has done better in other roles, even in supporting roles, for instance her short appearance in “Marriage Story” portrays her as someone who can command a scene. In stark contrast, Hemsworth is very uncharismatic in presence with Dern; I did not understand the idea behind why her character would be attracted to a sulky guy working in finance. Having a well-defined jaw is not the only trait one should look for. To make matters worse, Owen’s idiosyncrasies interfere with soft scenes, such as him walking away from her when she playfully calls him “kid” at the resort or seeing her at a bar. From his inscrutable facial reactions, I was unable to figure out if he found her attractive. And the subplot Owen’s anguish over a deal in which he needs to negotiate for his hedge fund feels as flimsy as a linen shirt does.
There are bumper stickers that say, “My eyes are up here, thank you,” but if the characters can’t keep your attention, can you at least admire the scheduling or the spa? It is certainly not in Naples. One may be able to appreciate some distant viewpoints. The film does not identify Morocco as a beautiful country, it is just another fad destination in this TikTok-obsessed world. I don’t know if the goal of photographer Ben Smithard was to make all of the images out of focus or shaky, but it was a little too much for this viewer. When the plot moves to the city of Chefchaouen’s Siberia, this offhand mention of course is not enough, and the viewer is shown its distinctive blue houses for about a second and a half. Fatema Benzakour, the resort hostess, barely pops her head around screens; ditto most other Moroccans. Lily’s new writing friend from Libya, Rafih, is played by Younès Boucif, and he hardly gets into the story before disappearing from the picture altogether. In fact, almost all the other characters are pop stars in their own right, mostly caustic, humorous, and sexually liberated.
“Lonely Planet”, a movie written and directed by Susannah Grant, did not lessen any loneliness; it may have even increased some. In fact, after watching countless ‘love stories’ where older men bag younger women, it is rather unfair to sit by when a woman whom the man is apparently 5-10 years older than, is discovering her love for him, or rather the dance and pursuit of him is borrowed from her. The film does get some ingredients right for its retro romantic comedy vibe, but fails entirely in what gets viewers to buy into an unlikely couple, that spark when the eyes meet and neither can look away, or the awkward stares and what-could-be thoughts if the two were actually closer together.
Katherine purrs “Careful, I could fall for a kid like you” only to then indefensibly offend her future suitor, but he has no cause to be so anxious in the first place. It’s just, there’s not enough romantic tension to even come close to burning up the screen, or even warming it up for that matter.
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