One thing in cinema we need during this challenging time is pure joy, and “Ticket to Paradise” brings that in abundance. Director Ol Parker is known for bringing these idyllic locations onto the big screen, and allowing audiences to live vicariously through the fun that others are having on screen. He is the director of “Mamma Mia! Here we go Again” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.”
Julia Roberts and George Clooney reunite after their appearances in the “Ocean’s” trilogy and “Money Monster,” and it’s a joy to see them fall in love and bicker their way through the first half of the film. It is refreshing to see the usual characters in a rom-com subverted in this film, as the typical trope is a young girl trying to find her way and ultimately falling in love with someone who was always in her life. In this film, the leads play a divorced couple who are sworn enemies but are brought together as their daughter (Kaitlyn Dever) is set to marry a man she has only just met. Her parents think she is wasting her life, and so hilarity ensues as they try to stop the wedding.
‘Ticket to Paradise’ is Pure Escapism
The film has a retro feel to it, almost as if it should have come out in the late ’90s – early 2000s, even with the added addition of outtakes during the credits. It’s always nice to see as gives audiences an insight into how much fun it was to make a film. The script is co-written by the director and Daniel Pipski, and is full of the typical rom-com tropes. It includes humorous antics and great set pieces, which showcase the natural chemistry Robots and Clooney have.
Kaitlyn Dever is a great addition to the cast, and you feel like she is the real daughter of Clooney and Roberts as there is an organic attraction already there. She has showcased her talents in films such as “Booksmart,” and most recently in the TV series “Dopesick.” She is a very natural actress and plays the role of the dutiful daughter who—on the face of it—seems more mature than her parents.
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Overall, “Ticket to Paradise” is a fun time at the cinema. The main appeal is seeing the beauty of Clooney and Roberts back on the screen, set to the backdrop of sun-kissed beaches and mountains. When you come out of the cinema, it may be hard adjusting to the reality of everyday life but at least you are able to switch off and have a vicarious holiday for an hour and a half—which is what we need during these difficult times.
“Ticket to Paradise” is releasing on October 21st, only in theaters.
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