The Tourist is one of those films that you hope will be a mash up of Taken and SALT but ends up being a meandering and pleasant tale that is more about the location (Venice) than it is about the action.
More a French drama that a Hollywood blockbuster, Depp (whose character Tom Cruise wanted, but fortunately never got) plays Frank, a hapless American math teacher who is picked up by Elise (Jolie) on a train to Venice. Elise is being watched by Interpol who hope that she will lead them to her criminal lover, a mysterious and shadowy man who stole a lot of money from his British gangster boss Shaw, who is also following Elise to get to her man.
It’s because of this that she seduces Frank, who is a similar build to her mysterious lover, in an effort to throw her pursuers off the trail. Unfortunately they both fall for each other.
Depp and Jolie’s chemistry isn’t quite there, and from time to time you full expect Depp to go all Jack Sparrow on you. Their acting passable, the action rare and the laughs all to infrequent you may wonder why you’d want to see The Tourist.
Chances are if you’re like me you won’t.
But the combination of lush cinematography gorgeous architecture and the enchanting location, along with a romantic overtone that shadows the story from it’s arrival in Venice to the very end, mean that this is a film that your girlfriend or wife will love, and consequently earn you brownie points if you bring it home one night. FILMGUIDE rating: Reviewed by: Jonathan
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