Review: George Clooney and Julia Roberts in "Ticket to Paradise"

It must be

nice to be Julia Roberts and George Clooney.

Not having to do much more than show up on a paradise island, pose among waterfalls, on boats and among exotic flowers to get paid.

Sure, they've had to work a little too.

In George Clooney's case – raise one eyebrow and be generally cool in casual holiday clothes.

In Julia Roberts' case – smile a lot.

smile and lovely laugh were the selling factor in the breakthrough film "Pretty Woman" from 1990. The spontaneous laughter when Richard Gere slams the jewelry case shut right in front of her fingers made the whole world fall in love.

Since then, we've seen her master both drama ("Erin Brokovich") and comedy ("Notting Hill").

But in "Ticket to Paradise" these talents are noticeably underutilized.

But on the other hand, Roberts and Clooney haven't had much to work with in terms of scripts.

Georgia Cotton (Julia Roberts) and ex-husband David Cotton (George Clooney) are forced to spend time with each other, drinking cocktails and watching sunsets together, just because their daughter Lily was stupid enough to fall in love with a Balinese.

The ex-spouses, well-to-do and in expensive cashmere garments, do not get along and throw insults at each other.

But when their daughter's future is at stake, they are forced to call a truce so they can focus on jointly sabotaging Lily's wedding plans.

"Ticket to Paradise"

has the special flavor of commercials and paid vacations.

Every single flower, coconut palm and umbrella drink appears to be adjusted to perfection.

Camera pans over turquoise water, slow motion shots of cute kids at an engagement party, and a George Clooney enjoying a roast pig all have the distinct feel of product placement.

And the product in this case is Bali.

If you really make an effort and stop thinking about the sums that the island's tourist office may have poured into this project to appear as paradise on earth, here is a poor man's version of the John Huston classic "The Queen of Africa" ​​(1951), published in luxury resort and beach environment.

The spirit between the main actors is scarce, however, and it is worrying that the extras with bloopers that roll during the credits are more fun than the film itself.

But it is there.

your eyes a little, you also get a small dose of "Mamma Mia!".

No musical numbers but good escapism and a new tourist destination to create your own holiday dreams and romantic fantasies from.

What did they say in the school yard?

Love starts with fights and ends with child support?

The updated version is love begins with love, then divorce and thoughts of a shared retirement in the sun.