A Perfect Getaway (2009)

Rating: B-

Dir: David Twohy
Star: Steve Zahn, Milla Jovovich, Timothy Olyphant, Kiele Sanchez

Cliff (Zahn) and Sydney (Jovovich) are on their honeymoon in Hawaii, and opt for an arduous trek through the forests, aiming to reach an idyllic deserted beach they saw while on a helicopter tour. However, their plans are disturbed by a chance encounter with an apparently deranged couple, and they are pleased to meet an apparently more-normal one, Nick (Olyphant) and Gina (Sanchez). Emphasis on “apparently,” because the deeper they go, the more apparent it is that Nick – a formar special forces soldier with a plate in his head – may be a blossom or two short of a lei.

News also reached Cliff and Sydney that someone married another pair of newly-weds back in Honolulu. Were their new friends responsible? And, if so, how can they make their excuses and leave, without triggering an additional homicidal outburst? Will that be the ‘perfect getaway’ of the title? This is one of those films which it’s difficult to critique without getting into spoiler territory. Let’s just say that this is a cheat, and probably a cheap one at that. However, it has enough positive qualities to overcome that, and make for an enjoyably demented tale, which will probably do a good job of putting you off talking to strangers while on holiday.

Zahn and Olyphant, in particular, get their teeth into their respective roles, of wimpy writer and self-proclaimed “American Jedi”, and the interaction between the pair is a lot of fun to watch. I can’t say the “second act twist” was a particular surprise, and its handling is somewhat botched; initially, not clear, Twohy then topples into over-explaining himself. Fortunately, he redeems himself with a rousing finale that proves thoroughly satisfying. It’s B-movie schlock, that’s for sure, but much as in Chronicles of Riddick, Twohy delivers it with an energy and commitment that sells the nonsense better than it deserves.