‘NOT SO PERFECT’
Starring: Steve Zahn, Timothy Olyphant, Milla Jovovich, Kiele Sanchez, Marley Shelton
Directed by: David Twohy
MPAA Rating: R for graphic violence, language including sexual references and some drug use
Genre: Action/Adventure and Thriller
By John Delia
There is not a lot I can say that would defend the intentionally deceptive storyline of A Perfect Getaway. I can say that the acting and cinematography are very good and yet not good enough for the price of admission. It’s like you pay for a piece of candy because you like how they wrapped it, but when you eat you find there’s an aftertaste.
The movie centers on Cliff (Zahn) and Cydney (Jovovich), a newly wed couple who go to Hawaii for an island-hopping honeymoon. After spending a few days in Honolulu, they set out for one of the outer islands for some adventure. After arriving they get the necessary permits and drive off in their Jeep to a drop off point where they will be taking a backpacking hike to one of the most gorgeous beaches in Hawaii. On the way they find out from some hikers that there were some murders in Honolulu and that the killer couple is still on the loose. Although outwardly upset over the news they press on where they meet another couple who they feel are safe to hike with to the beach. From here on things start to turn ugly in paradise.
Well, as I see it, this is an adventure that catches you up in a honeymoon gone mad, at least till you get to the ‘twist’ ending. Then it struck me that all the time the director was leading me on with false faces just to propagate his ruse.  Now if I go into particular scenes I would be giving away the whole story and therefore taking some of the fun out of the film. I will say that this is no Sixth Sense where you are totally awed by the ending even though the information was in plane sight. I actually had to see that film twice to see where I missed calling the twist ending. Here I just came away mad that I was tricked by some intentional deception that hid the identity of the killer.
All that aside I will say that the acting by Zahn, Olyphant, Jovovich and Sanchez is admirable in spite of the problematic screenplay. The googly eyed Zahn gives a cool performance as Cliff the hapless hiker who can’t get out of his own way. Pitted with the cool and convincing Jovovich as Cydney the two make the perfect honeymoon couple. But the acting wins go to Olyphant as Nick and Sanchez as Gina with great performances as an accommodating young couple that through caution to the wind.
The film is rated R by the MPAA for graphic violence, language including sexual references and some drug use.
FINAL ANALYSIS: This story misses the chance for a perfect escapade. (2Â of 5 Palm Trees)