Review of Aloha (2015) by Hubie G — 09 Jun 2015

A simple and diverting chick flick for those middle aged moms who can go to a matinee'. Panned by many, it is what it is. All concerns are with relationships between the principles and the only explosion happens in space in silence.

Not doubt about it, Rachel McAdams is a classic beauty, and she does a fine job of inhabiting her character convincingly. Emma Stone however, gives a pretentious performance in the first hour, one which makes you wonder if the director was watching.

Then in the last hour she forgets what she is supposed to do and simply joins the narrative. Cooper is consistent and realistic in his portrayal, and perhaps the best actor in the bunch since we never get the feeling he's putting us on.

The story is a bit sappy and tragic at the same time, but not overly heavy and melodramatic. Casting for the major conflict involving the back story of Cooper and McAdams has a lovely and natural actress playing the family's daughter.

Daniell Rose Russle is a star in the making! Her winnowy form and subtle facial movements reminded me of a young Nastassia Kinski. Handled in the future in a proper film, she will have mega star power as an actress.

Roy, played by Michael Churnus, is effectively annoying in a pre teen adolescent way, but he is given a plot device that is now overly clichéd. Throughout the movie he walks around with a video camera making home video.

It turns out that he filmed something he should not have seen and this turns out to be a major plot point. Anyone see "The Judge" last year with Robert Downey Jr.? Same thing. Young kid with camera making movies all the time has an effect on a major plot point.

(YAWWWWN). Hollywood, shame on you. With out the star power, I am sure this movie would have gone straight to video, but those empty nesters have to have a movie too, right? A lot has been made of the ethnic background of Emma Stones character, as she is 1/4 Hawaiian and 1/4 Chinese, but she no way resembles those groups of people physically.

This is such a non-issue, that the whole public apology thing looks more like calculated advertising. Sometimes Hollywood creates its own villains in order to get your attention. Not a bad date movie.

2 stars out of 5.