TICKET TO PARADISE (2022)
Starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Kaitlyn Dever, Billie Lourd, Maxime Bouttier, Lucas Bravo, Sean Lynch, Arielle Carver-O'Neill, Ling Cooper Tang, Charles Allen, Francis McMahon, Geneviève Lemon, Romy Poulier, Dorian Djoudi, Ilma Nurfauziah, Agung Pindha, Ifa Barry, Cintya Dharmayanti, Nom Gunadi, Inaya Servais and Ida Pandita Putu Wirata.
Screenplay by Daniel Pipski.
Directed by Ol Parker.
Distributed by Universal Pictures. 104 minutes. Rated PG-13.
Ticket to Paradise is a fun, sometimes silly rom com filled with some of the most gorgeous views of Bali that you could imagine. The entire film could undoubtedly be turned into an advertisement for the Bali Tourist Bureau to sell a million trips.
The film is directed by British writer and filmmaker Ol Parker, known for his past romantic comedies in exotic locales like Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! and both The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movies.
There is an exceptional cast. You really can’t go wrong with stars Julia Roberts and George Clooney because, while they already have built-in chemistry, they are both über talented and charismatic. Also let’s face it, like the scenery, they are also extremely attractive to look at as they continue to age so gracefully.
The story starts when Lily (Kaitlyn Dever) graduates from college. She leaves on a fun vacation to Bali with her crazy, often drunk roommate Wren, (Billie Lourd) before she is due to settle into her cushy law job back in the States. While partying through the vacation, Lily meets and falls in love with handsome seaweed farmer Gede (Maxime Bouttier). Somehow this extended vacation becomes the lead up to their traditional Balian wedding. Lily finds she is willing to give up all of her aspirations for a new one; to live in Bali with the man of her dreams.
When her divorced and always bickering parents – Georgia (Roberts) and David (Clooney) – find out about Lily’s upcoming nuptials, they decide to put their differences aside and work towards a common goal. That goal is breaking up the engagement and bringing their daughter home to live out her dream – or theirs – of being a successful lawyer. When they teamed up, I started enjoying the film more because the constant fighting early on between the two of them was somewhat over the top, in my opinion.
After joining forces, the two parents cause some bumps in the road for the couple but also learn a whole lot about themselves. Georgia’s current boyfriend/pilot Paul (Lucas Bravo) follows her around like a puppy dog and beyond giving David more fodder to throw his ex’s way, doesn’t seem to have much purpose.
The best scene of the film for me is when out at a bar as a group, David and Georgia relive one of their favorite memories from college – playing beer pong. After challenging the soon-to-be bride and groom to a game, with House of Pain’s 1992 hit song “Jump Around” blasting in the background, you are reminded why you love Julia Roberts and George Clooney so much as they dance around, goofing off and just having fun. No dialogue, just fun.
Although you won’t see any of this talented cast up on the Oscar stage for this specific film, it’s okay. It was still a fun, light film that’s easy to watch on a cold night and to fantasize about being in Bali… with Clooney, Roberts and some friends.
Deborah Wagner
Copyright ©2022 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: October 21, 2022.