Lonely Planet Is the Number 1 Movie on Netflix, but Is It Really That Good?
A-list cast and picturesque Morocco – what could go wrong?
There are still more than two months left in 2024, but we can already draw a brief conclusion: one of the main trends in cinema has become the relationship between an adult woman and a young man.
Anne Hathaway fell in love with a teen idol played by Nicholas Galitzine in The Idea of You, and Nicole Kidman started dating her daughter's boss in A Family Affair and fell in love with an intern in Babygirl.
These films addressed issues ranging from ageism and female sexuality to power in relationships and grooming.
What Is Lonely Planet About?
Lonely Planet tells the story of Katherine, who is going through a breakup, looking for a new home and unable to finish her book. At such a difficult moment, she comes to a retreat in Morocco where famous writers have gathered.
But Katherine is not eager to join the crowd or to go to the events. She needs silence to finish a new novel.
Owen, a financier far removed from the literary world, also feels out of place at the retreat. He has come to this place with his girlfriend, Lily. Katherine and Owen quickly bond and start spending time together.
There's No Chemistry Between the Leads
The new Netflix movie is the work of Susannah Grant, the creator of the heartbreaking miniseries Unbelievable. On the one hand, the director composes an inspiring message about love beyond boundaries and stereotypes in the spirit of The Idea of You.
On the other hand, Grant's interpretation is far inferior to Michael Showalter's film. There is no breathtaking chemistry between Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth: the characters look like good friends who are comfortable in each other's company.
In addition, Lonely Planet, unlike other representatives of this subgenre, does not try to rethink the plot about a huge age difference. Katherine and Owen barely discuss the generation gap and hardly face an internal dilemma about their romance.
Lonely Planet Is a Movie You Watch Once and Then Forget
Lonely Planet can be praised for its lack of excessive melodrama. The movie has few conflicts, unexpected plot twists and sentimental dialogues. The director has made a fairly even movie about how sometimes it is worth traveling thousands of miles to find yourself and your people.
But the monotonous narrative is also a drawback: the romance between Katherine and Owen does not touch the heart, does not force you to rejoice about the happiness of two singles. If you take away the fact that there is a big age difference between the characters, then there is practically nothing to say about the movie.