Plain and boring

I NEVER thought that a film with so much eye-candy could fail to hold my attention. I don't mind dramas (provided they're on screen and not part of my real life) but something about this one really failed to impress me.

I know that some female readers will probably assume that because I didn't enjoy this film I'm some uncaring male with little or no connection with my inner-most feelings, but that's not entirely true, I almost cried during the first five minutes of the animated masterpiece Up ... don't judge me, those were five emotional minutes!

However, even with a top-notch cast and a semi-interesting plot, this one just failed to grab hold of me. The story revolves around a restaurant owner named Sylvia, (I say restaurant owner because that's nicer than calling the character a glorified prostitute) who is really unhappy with life and spends her time wallowing in self-pity.

The movie follows several different people separated by time and distance and provides a candid insight into the various issues they all have. Obviously, there's Sylvia, a young woman who must overcome her personal demons; Mariana and Santiago, two troublesome teenagers who are desperately trying to piece together their parents broken dreams; Maria, a piteous little girl who goes on an epic journey to help her parents find love; and last but not least, Gina and Nick, a couple who must fight to keep their adulterous affair a secret._

The characters are all linked by a tragic event ... a burning trailer seen in the first scene of the film. Why is that significant, I can't say without spoiling the ending for anyone bored enough to want to see this film.

So, what (if anything) was good about this movie, well, Charlize Theron was fairly easy on the eyes and did a passable job with a complicated character. Theron has had an assortment of different roles throughout her career and, to be fair, she has an impressive range. I am glad to say she brings a convincing feeling to her character.

There are several different themes explored during the course of the film, (often to the detriment of the character development) however, love is a heavily featured topic. I'm not just talking about the love between a man and a woman; it covers the love between family and friends too.

So, why didn't I enjoy this film you ask, don't I appreciate the special connection and love I have with my friends and family? Of course I do, I just can't stand the notion that we're powerless over our own fate.

We make our own destiny and nothing in life is a mistake if you learn from it, it's just a lesson you learn the hard way. If the characters in this film could grasp that simple concept, there would be a lot less drama ... although come to think of it, that would leave a gaping hole in the movie.

Showing in Cineco, Seef II, Saar Cineplex