Today’s quick review: The Tourist. Elise Clifton-Ward (Angelina Jolie) receives an invitation from Alexander Pearce, an elusive thief and her former lover, to meet him in Venice. To throw Inspector Acheson (Paul Bettany) of Interpol off the trail, Elise picks a stranger to use as a decoy: Frank Tupelo (Johnny Depp), a mild-mannered teacher. But the ruse backfires when crime boss Reginald Shaw (Steven Berkoff) learns “Pearce” has been spotted.
The Tourist is a crime adventure about an American tourist who gets mistaken for a wanted criminal. Frank Tupelo is swept up in the hunt for Alexander Pearce, whose recent plastic surgery means he could look like anyone. Along the way, Frank finds himself falling for Elise and her world of wealth and danger, while Elise begins to see something irresistible in him. The Tourist is a fun movie that features an intriguing plot but suffers from a few flaws.
The Tourist’s best feature is its story. The movie likes to keep the audience and the characters guessing, setting up a free-for-all between Interpol, Elise, Shaw, and Pearce, with Frank stuck somewhere in the middle. The gambits and counter-gambits make the film engaging and unpredictable. Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie captures the elegant allure of high-class crime, while Johnny Depp does a convincing job as an ordinary man who’s in over his head.
Even so, The Tourist is missing a few qualities that it needs to truly succeed. Johnny Depp cuts a fairly neutral figure as Frank, going along with the events around him without showing much personality. His romance with Elise does not have the spark it should have, and the script as a whole does not have the comedic bent that would make it shine. The movie also suffers from the simple issue that it is hard to invest in Pearce when he stays hidden.
The Tourist makes for a fine popcorn watch that has some good ideas and mixed follow-through. The setup is interesting, the plot is entertaining, and the movie packs a few nice surprises. But in spite of The Tourist’s potential, the characters do not have the impact they should have, and the writing is missing some needed charm. Give it a shot if you don’t mind a bit of missed potential. Skip it if you’re looking for something outstanding.
For a classic crime movie with a similar setup, check out Charade. For an action-packed romp starring Angelina Jolie, try Mr. and Mrs. Smith. For a grittier crime drama about a case of mistaken identity, try A History of Violence.
6.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a fun setup held back by a few flaws.