Is the romantic comedy dead? I’m happy to report it is alive and well. The latest offering is ‘Ticket to Paradise.’ It’s a frothy adventure starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney. They carry this movie with their charm and chemistry. It is the reason audiences will get off their couches and go see it. Roberts and Clooney still got it. Audiences feel like they have a relationship with these actors. ‘Ticket to Paradise’ is an enjoyable time at the movies. Throw in beaches, sunsets and Bali for good measure and you are guaranteed for a fun ride.
The plot is simple. Georgia (Roberts) and David (Clooney) were married for five years and divorced. They have been living their lives separately for the last 25 years. When their daughter Lily (Kaitlyn Dever) is ready to graduate law school, they are forced to celebrate this special occasion together. They also see Lily off on a vacation to Bali with her bestie Wren (Billie Lourd) before she starts her career at a prestigious law firm. Her plans are derailed when she falls in love with a local seaweed farmer (Maxime Bouttier). She gets engaged within a matter of weeks and invites her parents to the wedding in Bali.
Obviously both Georgia and David are not happy with the news. They think their daughter is throwing her life away. They try to put the bickering aside and join forces to stop their daughter from making the biggest mistake of her life. You see, they rushed into marriage and don’t want their daughter to follow in their footsteps. The script is serviceable enough but doesn’t try to reinvent the genre. That’s okay. You don’t go to ‘Ticket to Paradise’ for the premise, you go to see Roberts and Clooney play off each other. They carry this film with charisma and comic timing.
You cannot ask for a better location. The film is set in beautiful Bali (well sorta). It was actually shot on the coast of Australia due to the Covid restrictions at the time of filming. As the story moves along, Georgia and David devise ways to sabotage the wedding. There are some funny gags that include beer pong and dolphins. Georgia’s pilot boyfriend Paul (Lucas Bravo) shows up and becomes the brunt of some jokes. The film gets sentimental. Georgia and David remember the good times. They let their guard down. Paradise has a tendency to work that way. Roberts and Clooney are in their element with effortless banter.
So the big question is should you go see ‘Ticket to Paradise?’ If you are fans of Julia and George, the answer is simple. They shine on the big screen. It is fun seeing these two actors at the top of their craft. They make it look easy. Take the movie for what it is and enjoy the ride!
