Two pairs of lovers are having the "perfect" Hawaiian vacation until they discover that psychopaths are murdering tourists. Don't you just hate it when that happens?
I know it sounds predictable, so that's the reason I almost overlooked this movie when it was released. I don't rent that many thrillers and the prospect of spending 108 minutes watching an unwitting pair of tourists get hacked to pieces didn't do much for me. That is until I saw the magic words: Steve Zahn and Timothy Olyphant.
I like both of these actors. Zahn always seems to play the goofy guy who can't help screwing up (Happy Texas, Management and Strange Wilderness). Olyphant is usually the brooding character probably best known for his role as sheriff in HBO's fantastic Deadwood series. I thought, "Hey Bob, why not watch good ol' goofy Steve Zahn get chopped up by the guy who played the sheriff on Deadwood."
Throwing both fashion sense and common sense to the wind, they strike off on their wilderness adventure.
Sounded like a good way to kill a cold Sunday evening in Colleyville. And it is an enjoyable thriller that includes creepy Mila Jovovich (Resident Evil, Ultraviolet) and a cast of other people you won't recognize.
The plot centers around a pair of newlyweds (Zahn and Jovovich) who head off to Hawaii for the perfect honeymoon. They decide that nothing says lovin' like a four-day hike in paradise, so they strike out on the trail with 50lb backpacks and a dozen energy bars.
Boomers, we've lived long enough to know that this just isn't realistic. Charlotte will tell you this journey isn't possible without at least TWO 50lb BACKPACKS - ONE for SHOES and ONE for CLOTHES. Jeez, were these people raised by WOLVES?
Throwing both fashion sense and common sense to the wind, they strike off on their wilderness adventure. Along the trail they link up with Olyphant and his charming girlfriend who Zahn and Jovovich soon believe are stalking them.
Zahn does a quick consult with Google (thanks to an iPhone with unbelievable cell service in the middle of a rainforest) that tells them the psycho killers are on the run and probably - wait for the download - ARE ON THE ISLAND with them. What're the odds?
The plot thickens from here with more twists and turns than the trail they're traversing. Like any good thriller you can't take anything for granted and director David Twohy does a nice job of keeping you off-balance. My only gripe is that he should've gone to Lowe's for a truckload of Great Stuff to fill in all the plot holes.
Minor annoyances when compared to the spectacular scenery of Kauai (if you don't have a Blu-Ray player, this movie is a good excuse to get one) and the whodunit ending. No, A Perfect Getaway isn't perfect, but it is a getaway worth taking.
The Boomer Brief recommends Netflix for your movie rentals. The monthly rental packages start at only $4.99 - and you can cancel at any time.
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