George Clooney and Julia Roberts reunite for the fifth time as bickering divorcees trying to sabotage their daughter’s hasty wedding. Ticket to paradise has a crowd-pleasing heart and humor, but no surprises whatsoever. It has beautiful people, a beautiful setting and a formula script that could have been written by a romantic comedy robot. I liken the film to vanilla pudding. It looks and tastes okay, but loses its flavor after a few bites. Ticket to paradise rolls off the tongue too easily. The total lack of realistic tension quickly lost my interest.
David (Clooney) and Georgia (Roberts) Cotton reunite in Chicago for their daughter’s graduation. Lily (Kaitlyn Dever) is the one thing the argumentative exes can agree on. They try to get along for a while and celebrate her promising future. Lily goes to Bali with her promiscuous roommate, Wren (Billie Lourd), to party before she grows up. An accidental stranding at sea leads to the rescue of the handsome Dede (Maxime Bouttier).
Thirty-seven days later, David and Georgia receive a disturbing update. Lily has decided to marry Dede, a seaweed farmer, at a traditional Agama Hindu Dharma wedding. Her parents race to Bali to thwart the reckless act. They agree to bury their grievances and work together. David and Georgia feign marital support as they engage in subversion. Their tactics are not lost on an astute Dede, who tries to introduce them to his culture. Teamwork fuels a flame that was never extinguished. For example, the old lovers are forced into even more awkward situations when Georgia’s amorous boyfriend shows up.
Ticket to Paradise has a feel-good factor
Ticket to paradise will make a certain audience swoon. You can’t ignore the feel-good factor. Light material coupled with superstar chemistry predictably flows to the happy, sweet and sour ending. Clooney and Roberts have always been nice together. The film uses that as fuel for reconciliation. Their incessant sniping was just a cover for shielded affection. This is evident from the opening minute. Everyone embraces the fall in each other’s arms moment. Spice it up a bit with a sprinkling of the unexpected. The lack of fear deserves the pudding comparison.
Director/co-writer Ol Parker (The best exotic marigold hotel, Mamma Mia! Here we go again) gets humor points from a few sources. Clooney and Roberts’ struggle to adapt to Indonesian ceremonies raises several laughs. Lourd has some scene-stealing moments as Wren goes on a hunt for her own handsome stud. She impresses in the first act for a drastic reduction in screen time. Admittedly, Wren is a small supporting actor, but makes for a welcome distraction for the stale Lily. The film would have benefited from more of her character.
Ticket to paradise will benefit from the fall release. Who doesn’t dream of exotic Bali in cold weather? I’d rather wear a loud Hawaiian shirt and piña coladas. Idyllic landscapes with crystal clear beaches and green jungles are sure to boost tourism; even if the film was mainly shot in Australia.
Ticket to paradise falters like a known good. The stress-free approach made me bored. A scene where David and Wren drink together was a missed opportunity for complications. Break out the vanilla pudding for date night.
Ticket to paradise is a production of Working Title Films, Smokehouse Pictures and Red Om Films. It will have a theatrical release on October 21 from Universal photos.