Think the romantic comedy genre is dead, at least as far as major studios are concerned? Think again.
Director and co-writer Ol Parker teaming George Clooney and Julia Roberts in Bali proves there is lots of life left in the rom-com formula if you have the right people involved and a smart sense of what makes this kind of one-time movie staple actually work.
Ticket to Paradise is the ticket to genuine movie fun, pairing occasional co-stars Clooney and Roberts (Ocean’s 11 & 12, Money Monster) in roles they were born to play — together. What makes it work so well is they get to play snark and sparks as a divorced couple, David and Georgia, whose marriage lasted only five years but resulted in a daughter they both love and fear is about to make the same mistake they did — or so they think — by getting married.
Lily (Kaitlyn Dever) has graduated law school and now, with BFF Wren (Billie Lourd) in tow, is heading on a well-earned vacation to Bali for a couple of weeks. Cut to 37 days later, and Lily is still there and informing her parents she has met the love of her life, Gede (Maxime Bouttier), and plans to marry him and live on the island. Not much can bring these two parents together these days, but this news definitely does as each, unbeknownst to the other, immediately books a flight to stop Lily before it goes forward. In a hilarious sequence on the plane, they discover they both have the same idea, and it gets even more complicated when David learns that the pilot of the aircraft is Paul (Lucas Bravo), who also happens to be Georgia’s smitten, much-younger boyfriend.
Without resorting to the kind of slapstick shenanigans that could sink a story like this, Parker (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and co-writer Daniel Pipski keep it real, and rather sophisticated, as David and Georgia try various methods to set Lily on a different path but also engage in non-stop bickering as we learn just why they never should have been together in the first place. However as the trip continues, and they get into the groove of the gorgeous setting, their passionate distaste for each other shows there are still sparks, especially as Georgia questions her own commitment to Paul, who keeps proposing.
Without resorting to the kind of slapstick shenanigans that could sink a story like this, Parker (Mamma Mia Here We Go Again, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and cowriter Daniel Pipski keep it real, and rather sophisticated as David and Georgia try various methods to set Lily on a different path, but also engage in non-stop bickering as we learn just why they never should have been together in the first place. However as the trip continues, and they get into the groove of the gorgeous setting, their passionate distaste for each other shows there are still sparks, especially as Georgia questions her own commitment to Paul who keeps proposing.
One of the film’s best scenes shows off the genuine Clooney-Roberts chemistry as each has way too much to drink in the bar one night and hilariously demonstrate their dancing skills to the entire resort. They provide the answer to what makes rom-coms work: a likable and believable pair of superstars showing they are at heart a new-age Tracy and Hepburn — fully aware of their star wattage but never letting it get in the way of credibly creating two parents with a genuine concern for the one thing they got right. Will they also find each other again along the way? That would not be so easy, and this film, bright and sunny as it is, also is grounded in reality, always credible and, though it doesn’t rewrite the rules of romantic comedies, Ticket to Paradise truly shines as an example of how to make them seem new again.
This certainly is a show that belongs to its stars, but the supporting cast could not be better. Dever again shows that she is one of her generation’s real talents, and with Lourd hilariously stealing scenes, we have a welcome Booksmart reunion to boot. French star Bravo (Emily in Paris) is charmingly cast as the kind of well-meaning but maybe too-shallow guy that Georgia would find ripe for a fling but perhaps not much else. Indonesian actor Bouttier plays Gede with just right amount of sincerity to make us believe Lily has found that elusive one true love.
Ole Birkeland has supplied to gorgeous cinematography that probably will have audiences booking their next vacation straight to Bali (a second unit shot on the island but because of pandemic restrictions, and the film actually was shot in and around Queensland, Australia). Lorne Balfe’s sweet score compliments the comedy throughout.
Producers are Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, Deborah Balderstone and Sarah Harvey. Working Title is one of the production companies, and that makes sense as in that it produced such choice examples of rom-coms as Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones’s Diary and Love Actually. This one fits well in that group. Universal begins its North American release wide Friday exclusively in theaters, where it belongs. Ticket to Paradise already has been playing in several international territories, earning more $73 million so far. People need to laugh together again, and this will do the trick. Check out my video review with scenes from the film.
Do you plan to see Ticket to Paradise? Let us know what you think.