Since December 26, Ukrainian cinemas have been showcasing the premiere of the comedy detective «Poolman», an idea that struck Hollywood actor Chris Pine during a chat with director Patty Jenkins. They had previously collaborated on the superhero blockbuster «Wonder Woman» (2017) and its sequel, and in «Poolman», Pine took the director’s chair while Jenkins served as one of the producers of the film. Below, we dive into what came out of it.
Pluses:
a good cast;
Minuses:
a bad movie that consists entirely of flaws;
«Poolman»
Genre comedy detective
Director Chris Pine
Cast Chris Pine, Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Clancy Brown, DeWanda Wise, Ray Wise, Juliet Mills, John Ortiz
Premiere cinemas
Release Year 2024
Website IMDb
Darren Barrenman, a pool cleaner from sunny Los Angeles, loves to meditate in a small pool at his residential complex, write letters to Erin Brockovich, and appeal to local authorities with proposals for improving the city’s transport infrastructure. However, this zealous enthusiast is seen more as a local lunatic than a real fighter for the betterment of the City of Angels.
One day, a stunning dark-skinned woman named June Del Rey visits Darren, proposing to expose the corrupt ties of local power broker Steven Toronkovski. After some hesitation, Barrenman agrees to take on the case, securing support from an elderly couple — documentarian Jack and psychotherapist Dayan, his girlfriend Susan, and best friend Wayne.
Judging by the name of this unpretentious comedy detective, at first glance, it might seem like another story about a brave superhero in colorful tights, ready to protect the weak and suffering again. Maybe it’s even somehow related to Deadpool. But no, here we have Chris Pine’s directorial debut, inspired by the neon-noir classic «Chinatown» (1974), multiplied by plots about shaggy slackers in the style of The Dude Lebowski. It wouldn’t hurt to mention «Inherent Vice» (2014) by Paul Thomas Anderson as well.
It’s just a pity that these outstanding sources of inspiration didn’t help Pine and his co-author, also a novice in the screenplay field Ian Gotler, write a coherent story and ultimately make an interesting movie out of it. «Strange and captivating adventure!» — proclaims the official Ukrainian poster, quoting the publication Film Obsessive. While the first can be agreed upon almost immediately, the latter is far from reality.
And overall, during the viewing, it’s hard to shake off the thought that the script was clearly written under the influence of banned substances, and Pine’s direction turned out to be, as they say, totally laid-back. How else to explain the glaring messiness of a narrative that essentially lacks meaningful content and in which, as a result, even the devil would break his leg.
A multitude of characters who constantly babble and aimlessly dash about, the absence of a narrative core to lead the audience in the right direction, and a sufficient number of strange scenes, like the main character’s encounter with an iguana — all this not only fails to help focus on the story but further confuses and irritates.
Obviously, the director made his movie with a nod to classic noirs, as they were plot-wise inclined to complexity. Only the latter in «Poolman» went off into the wrong steppe, and instead of anxiety, or at least some emotions, we get an unpleasant indifference. And instead of sharp, razor-like dialogues — empty chatter. The characters just utter meaningless lines and can abruptly jump from one topic to another, managing to chatter about the feds, feelings, and a tasty cold cocktail on a hot summer day.
Pine managed to gather a whole team of star actors, but there’s not much for them to play, since there’s no room to unfold. Now and then, Danny DeVito flickers in the frame, constantly racing around with his video camera. Then for a few minutes, John Ortiz grants viewers a sour-faced expression. Even Ray Wise pops into this festival of waste, to at 77 demonstrate a perfect Hollywood smile and a pleasant tan.
As for the main character played by Pine, it’s better not to mention him again. He’s aimed at audience sympathy with an image of a charming slacker like The Dude Lebowski, but he sorely lacks that charm and charisma to evoke any emotions.
Perhaps the only principle in the character’s use of old-fashioned devices is felt in the nostalgic connection with the glorious past (and The Dude, remind you, is a concentrated ’90s) and its carefree vibe in a robe and slippers. In the pool, he meditates, armed with a CD player. His letters to Erin Brockovich are typed on a typewriter. Don’t forget about VHS. And his photographs are obtained old-school, by developing film.
In the end, «Poolman» amounts to a detective story without intrigue, a comedy without humor, and, by and large, a story without a meaningful plot. If you want to suffer during viewing — this is your ideal pick for the evening. For those who do not appreciate a movie in which characters endlessly spill from empty to void — better pay attention to the acting works of the novice director.
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