‘Ticket to Paradise’ Review – Unexpectedly Amusing And Effortlessly Entertaining

Synopsis: Academy Award® Winners George Clooney and Julia Roberts reunite on the big screen as exes David and Georgia who find themselves on a shared mission to stop their lovestruck daughter from making the same mistake they once made. From Working Title, Smokehouse Pictures and Red Om films, Ticket to Paradise is a romantic comedy about the sweet surprise of second chances.

Only you can determine your path into the future. Others may guide you or insist upon where you will end up, but you ultimately have the final say. You only have one life, so you might as well make the decisions that will make you the happiest or at least make the most sense to you. I know you don’t want to disappoint anyone but don’t forget, you shouldn’t want to let yourself down either. You can only worry about the opinions of others to a certain extent before all of your choices become theirs, and that’s when you begin to become disappointed in them. Choose yourself. Choose happiness.  They’ll understand — eventually.

“Right place, right time, right circumstances.”

Home is where the heart is but paradise is on the other side of the world. Picture this, you just finished seven grueling years of college. Now that you’ve graduated, it’s time for a vacation to celebrate, to unwind, and that operates as a buffer before you enter an even more intense professional life. But what happens when the sandy beaches, beautiful sunsets, and new culture become something that you don’t want to leave? Also, what happens when you’re divorced and highly dysfunctional parents find out that you’re bailing on your new job and not coming home? Directed by Ol Parker, Ticket to Paradise is unexpectedly amusing and effortlessly entertaining. Led by the legendary George Clooney and Julia Roberts, the film is instantly intriguing. Not to mention, it also stars Kaitlyn Dever and Billie Lourd have been making waves over the past few years. This romantic comedy of old guard meets new guard is immensely funnier than it has any business being coupled with tons of heart and warm moments that are genuinely earned. 

“Why save the good stuff for later?”

This is an aesthetically beautiful story where the ignition of new love sparks an old flame. With laugh-out-loud toxicity, amazing comedic timing, and great messaging, it’s a film that is difficult to dislike. It’s a story that is simplistic in approach but deeply meaningful in reception. Its themes range from happiness to second chances and these are concepts that we can all relate to. As it weaves in and out of drama as well as the Balinese/Indonesian culture, the story forces you to take to examine your own life. You might ponder, whether or not you are on your path to happiness, if certain people in your life deserve another chance, and that it’s never too late to make changes in your life. Moreover, you’ll be constantly laughing while doing so. Watching Clooney and Roberts drunkenly dance to old-school Hip-Hop is definitely a highlight. Ticket to Paradise has more to offer than you’d expect and is definitely better than the trailer makes it out to be. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much you’ll enjoy yourself. The performances are terrific, the story is touching, and you’ll leave the theater feeling good. Its rewatchability is high.

Pacing & Pop

The pacing of the film is initially rather brisk but when it levels out in the second, it’s smooth sailing. It’s not until the third act that it begins to bog down a bit. Nevertheless, it’s not a glaring issue as the film entertains consistently. What popped for me was the mere presence of Billie Lourd. Anytime she appears on screen you know that you’re going to get something wonderfully strange, oddly profound, or hilariously inappropriate. This time we get a mixture of the first and the latter and it’s glorious.

Characters & Chemistry

Starring: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Kaitlyn Dever, Billie Lourd, Maxime Bouttier, Lucas Bravo

George Clooney and Julia Roberts are the epitomai of movie stars. You’d be hard-pressed to find chemistry more effortless and enchanting in any film this year. Their performances are perfect as they showcase why they are held in such high regard. They make this simple yet universal story burst.

Ticket to Paradise releases in theaters on October 21, 2022. Stay safe and enjoy.

Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 1h 44m

Director: Ol Parker

Writers: Ol Parker, Daniel Pipski

Producers: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Sarah Harvey, Deborah Balderstone,

Executive Producers: George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Julia Roberts, Lisa Roberts Gillan, Marisa Yeres Gill, Amelia Granger, Sarah-Jane Robinson, Sam Thompson, Jennifer Cornwell

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkP4tVTdsz8]