Review #8: Paradise

Paradise

Release Date: October 18th, 2013
Writer: Diablo Cody
Director: Diablo Cody

Logline: After surviving a plane crash a young conservative woman suffers a crisis of faith. (Source: IMDb) Comedy/Drama, 86 min.
Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests


Review
It sucked. Don't watch this movie.

There are a lot of things I wanted to like about it. It's the story of a woman's experience without being romantic. It's about very extreme characters which can lead to funny situations. The supporting cast is actually fantastic.

Everything else in the film falls flat.

The problem with Paradise is that 10 minutes after watching it, I can't remember anything that happened. It spends so much time talking about what's going on that no one experiences it happening. The whole premise is a girl experiencing the "sins" of the Vegas strip, and they don't show any of the sins! Watching two people talk is not only visually boring, you don't gain that connection to the characters because you don't experience events with them. It's unfortunate because it's a great movie idea that's so bogged down with dialogue there is nothing for the audience to take home and remember.

Julianne Hough as Lamb

The main character Lamb is played by the flat and uninteresting Julianne Hough. Her character is both jaded and innocent, hardened and naive. She's a collection of contradictions that are never resolved and her character doesn't show the growth that she should. Julianne can sing and dance, but I'm still no sold on her as a dramatic actress.

I have a major problem with the fact that Lamb was dramatically disfigured by a plane crash leaving third degree burns on over 90% of her body, and appears fresh-faced and doe-eyed throughout the film. How is it possible that her neck was burned but her hair remains pristine? I can't ignore this because Lamb's journey comes from the isolation from being mutilated. Sure, a paint job on her arms suggest that she has unseen damage, but movies are a visual medium. It's hard to sympathize with someone who feels social stigma for their looks when they look better than the majority of the population.

The rest of the cast is great. Russell Brand might play the same "character" in every movie, but he delivers lines with such sincere exuberance that it elevates the otherwise boring dialogue. Octavia Spencer is a joy because she surprises me every time she's on screen. Lamb's parents are played by the hysterical Holly Hunter and Nick Offerman who bring so much grounded humor to their roles,
they make this film tolerable.

The reason the film is named Paradise is because most tourists who visit Las Vegas are actually staying in the town of Paradise unknowingly. (Plus, there is some religious jibber jabber that isn't ever fully realized.) Watching this movie feels appropriate for the name; we thought we were going to the great city of Las Vegas and ended up in a small town no one has heard of.

Portrayal of Women:
I really loved the character Loray. A black woman, singing in a Vegas nightclub, being told to sing Aretha Franklin and opting for Radiohead instead. How damn refreshing. In fact, there is something refreshing about the whole thing not being centered around her finding a relationship, but rather her growing as a person. It's something we desperately need more of in the movie industry.

Sisterhood Moment:
Lamb, drunk for the first time, throws up in a bathroom and a stranger holds back her hair. She calls that girl a magical prostitute. That sums up my experiences drinking, as well.

Rating: 2/5

IMDb - Paradise (4.7)
Wikipedia - Paradise
Rotten Tomatoes - Paradise (22%)