1950s Hollywood, B-movie writer Pete's life is on the up. His latest film Sand Pirates of the Sahara is a success, and the studio is pushing his latest work, the one he really thinks will get him on the A-list. Unfortunately he gets branded a communist by the McCarthy commission and blacklisted, despite his protesting that he only attended the incriminating college society meeting to impress a girl. After a heavy night's drinking his car plunges off a bridge and he wakes up the next morning on a strange beach with no memory. However the local townsfolk mistake him for a returning war hero and his appearance pulls the population out of a lingering depression, especially when he starts to renovate the town cinema his 'father' owns.
You can't fault The Majestic for effort in trying to recapture the spirit of the old feel-good movies. Gosh-darn-it, it just tries too damn hard though. The drama is too heavy and obvious with little reprieve, the comedy moments either being far too old-school or leaving you unsure whether everyone's tongues are in their cheeks, hearts are on their sleeves or both. There were some times I wanted to laugh at the melodrama, but was caught trying to work out whether this time they were ridiculing or honouring the golden oldies.
The cast are all perfect in their roles, Jim Carrey again showing he can do drama (if not necessarily be a strong dramatic leading man), Landau as accomplished as ever. The weak point is definitely the script not having enough comedy relief for it's long running time apart from the two script meetings. Another cloying factor is the overly intrusive score which has mournful strings accompanying even the most innocuous glance at a family photo. Good intentions but far short of the Oscar contender it was obviously hoping to be. |
