Sandra Bullock shines as always but even her considerable talent isn't enough to make this flawed film what it should have been.
It is a highly creative attempt at bringing together both comedy and serious drama but “Our Brand in Crisis” (**) seems to stumble along the way. Director David Gordon Green makes a valiant attempt at a serious political satire, something Hollywood is hardly known for, but, in the end, the ensemble just can’t quite seem to pull it off.
The plot is, basically, about Sandra Bullock who has been out of the political advisor game for sometime and is attempting a comeback, according to USA Today. This political consulting firm she signs on with is headed down to Bolivia to get their client elected president of that country. Green tends to slide back and for the between satirical drama and weak attempts at comedy when he probably should have just tried to focus on one of them. It’s like trying to multi-task. Sure, you have a couple of things going at the same time but neither of them really turns out great because of a split in your focus.
Bullock is in hiding, sort to speak, because she has suffered some crushing defeats of late. Her character’s nickname is Calamity Jane and Sandra, as always, brings it. She plays the character with a poisonous tongue and a wise cracking edge. Bullock is a natural for these characters.
One of the major challenges with the movie is that the pace is too slow. No one is expecting James Bond type of movement but the film just stumbles and plods along and takes far too long to get going. Bullock is talked back into the arena after being perfectly happy to be a pottery making recluse who, she says, is finally calm.
The plodding gets a rocket fueled boost once Bullock finally gets into the game. It is then that we begin to see the strategy and what it actually takes to get elected to a high office anywhere. Even Bullock, however, can’t keep the momentum going as the direction, and the script, just seem to fizzle just as it should be gaining momentum.
STAR KEY:
**** / Great. You must see this film.
*** / Very Good. Worthy of your precious time.
** / Flawed by OK. It’s not that good but it’s not awful.
* / Forget it. Don’t waste your time or your money.
