Seen on: August 10, 2009

The players: Director: David Twohy, Writer: David Twohy, Cast: Steve Zahn, Timothy Olyphant, Milla Jovovich, Kiele Sanchez, Marley Shelton, Chris Hemsworth

Facts of interest: Twohy also directed "Pitch Black" and "The Chronicles of Riddick."

The plot: Two newlyweds travel to Hawaii for a hiking trip only to discover two dangerous killers are on the loose not far away from them.

Our thoughts: David Twohy’s “A Perfect Getaway” is one of those thrillers trying to mislead audiences so it can pull off a huge twist in the end, but as far as I’m concerned, it clearly failed to surprise me. The film is by no means a total waste of time, but its lack of suspense and inability to engage my interest makes it something I would not want to revisit.

Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich star as Cliff and Cydney, two ecstatic newlyweds who decide to spend their honeymoon hiking to one of Hawaii’s most remote beaches. At first, everything goes according to plan, but when Cliff and Cydney hear about a horrifying murder of a newlywed couple on the islands, things begin to change.

With the killers still on the loose, Cliff and Cydney quickly question whether they should proceed, and a strange encounter with two more couples on the trail really doesn’t make things easier. On the contrary, trust quickly fades as everyone begins to look like a suspect…

This sets the stage for what is yet to come in “Getaway,” which spends considerable time trying to push viewers into believing anyone of these six characters could be responsible for the murders. Sadly enough, I didn’t really buy any of the film’s several attempts to mislead me, mainly because I already figured out the puzzle early on.

Still, “A Perfect Getaway” boasts several positives, one being select conversations the lead characters share while they’re spending the majority of the plot hiking and camping. Twohy successfully manages to make fun of his film’s genre via his characters, and he clearly lets his viewers know they shouldn’t take this movie all too seriously.

While the first hour advances slowly by hitting several dragging scenes, the final third of the film quickly switches gears and develops into an over-the-top action finale that’s neither vibrant nor really surprising. Considering most of the film carries a rather balanced atmosphere, the showdown just feels out of place.

What I admire most in “A Perfect Getaway” is the cast. Acting honors go to Timothy Olyphant, who plays a former solider who calls himself an damn American Jedi. While Steve Zahn plays a convincing screenwriter who prefers to keep things in order, Jovovich takes her role of super-excited newlywed a tad too far at times. All in all though, the film boasts a bunch of solid performances.

Freaky quote: "The further we go, the fewer people on the trail." – Steve Zahn

The final word: “A Perfect Getaway” may prove to be a much more intense experience as long as you don’t see the twist coming too early. In my case, I really couldn’t get too excited about where the film was heading. It may not be a boring thriller, but it sure is forgettable for the most part.

 Article by Franck Tabouring