After
the Sunset (2004)
Rated PG13
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, and
Woody Harrelson
Rating:

out
of

|
FBI agent Stanley Lloyd (Woody Harrelson) is so tired of being bested
by a jewel thief couple, Max (Pierce Brosnan) and Lola (Salma Hayek),
that he tracks them down to their retirement island paradise convinced
that they're up to something.
It just so happens that a cruise
ship carrying a priceless gem is docked at the same island that they
picked to live out the rest of their lives.
Max claims to be unaware of it but Lola knows that Max may be unable to
resist the temptation of one last score. It also turns out that the local
island crime boss, Henri Mooré (Don Cheadle), also has an eye on
the diamond. He wants Max to steal it for him so he can fund some sort
of project for himself. Yawn.
As a comedy, After
the Sunset is pretty good. Unfortunately, it also
tries pretty hard to be a sort of low-rent caper/romance set in an exotic
locale. It fails miserably in that regard. It does succeed in making a
likeable on-screen couple of Woody Harrelson and Pierce Brosnan. (Yes,
I do mean it like it sounds. Well, almost.) Director Brett Ratner goes
out of his way to find ingenious excuses to aim the camera down Salma
Hayek's shirt but her scenes with Brosnan don't work romantically.
Naomi Harris, as local cop, Sophie, who teams up with Agent Lloyd, is
given the thankless role of a sort of disposable romantic prop. One minute
she's a serious cop, then she's making out with Lloyd, and then she practically
disappears from the film.
Try as it might, After
the Sunset is not a smart movie, nor is it romantic.
It's sort of humorous but, otherwise, it's just forgettable. Trivia: It
was so cold during filming of some beach scenes, that the actors'
breath was visible. (Source: The
Internet Movie Database) |