A Perfect Getaway – 2009
**½ Out of ****
It is strange to encounter a film that’s best and worst elements originate from the same source. Writer/director David Twohy infuses the first half of the film with witty writing, humour and develops the main characters quite nicely. But it is this writing that ultimately leads up to the predictable and hugely contrived twist which mars and otherwise engaging experience.
Although the character driven opening is essentially a device to forward the big reveal, the human elements are handled well, with very nice performances from its minimal cast. Finally departing from the Resident Evil franchise is Mila Jovovich and I must admit I had forgotten what a wonderful actress she is having being tethered to the poor scripts of the video game series. Joining her is the always enjoyable and consistently underrated Steve Zahn and lovely Kiele Sanchez who also put their best efforts forward. Stealing the show however is the Timothy Oliphant (also coming off a video game film with Hitman) who’s off kilter performance almost makes A Perfect Getaway recommending in full.
While the title may imply an add for Expedia, A Perfect Getaway immediately immerses the audience into the beautiful island of Hawaii which newlyweds Cliff (Zahn) and Cydney (Jovovich) are preparing to conquer by way of a remote and beautiful beach accessible by only a treacherous hike. However, near disaster joins the duo with another couple (Olyphant and Sanchez) who decide to complete the trek together, which is when they learn killers are on the loose, murdering couples, and thought to be on that very island. With a creepy third couple drifting in and out of the picture, this picturesque holiday soon becomes an exercise in paranoia and suspicion.
The problem with A Perfect Getaway is not the twist itself, but that Twohy really leaves no opportunities for a true surprise in the way the scenario is constructed. In fact I greatly admired a subtle sub-twist involving the history of the killers and their motivation, and was infinitely more intelligent then that of the main shock. The big reveal is also accompanied by an excruciating 10-minute-flashback-expose which strips any subtlety from the twist and is simply contrived as a whole. Plot holes are rampant as is with many sub-par thrillers the story must deceive the audience with contrivances in order to advance the mystery. Some redemption is met by way of a fiery final confrontation between the killers and the victims but the opening half which is slightly overlong, coupled with the stories predictability ultimately left me indifferent. An enjoyable enough diversion, but not the worth the price of admission, if anything A Perfect Getaway is a platform for some wonderful performances even if the package as a whole is far less rewarding.
