Only one more day until the release of “Aloha” in the U.S. and the first reviews are finally getting released. While the movie isn’t receiving good reviews so far, most of them do seem to enjoy the performances in the movie and especially Rachel’s performance as Tracy. A round-up of the reviews can be found below, especially those who highlight Rachel’s performance. We will edit this post when more reviews are released.
“Even with its off-balance, overstuffed storytelling, the film maintains a charm and energy that never flags, with brisk pacing and generally engaging performances from its deep-bench cast […] McAdams, meanwhile, plays likely the strongest, most rounded female character Crowe has ever written, a woman suddenly face to face with the life she has and the one she might have had, and the actress brings a grounded, unforced earthiness to the role that is a joy to watch.”
–Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times
“There are some moments, most of them thanks to McAdams. She can make truth out of contrivance, often nonverbally, dramatizing contradictory impulses within a single moment. I found myself leaning into a kitchen scene between McAdams and Cooper; in the space of a few seconds, the actress activates her character’s full array of concerns and regrets and conflicted feelings.”
–Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
“Cooper and the naturalistic McAdams have better chemistry together, and thanks to their authentic alchemy, the audience buys into the conflicted feelings that Gilcrest and Tracy have one another. We don’t need to the flashbacks or montages to their past, as their effortlessly shared performance creates its own credible history. Crowe’s strong suit in general is Tracy’s side of the story, leavened by her non-communicative Air Force husband (played by John Krasinski) and her two kids (Jaeden Lieberher, the kid from “St. Vincent,” and Danielle Rose Russell).”
–Rodrigo Perez, Indiewire
“So Aloha might have a hard time with some critics seeing an opportunity to pounce. It sadly is the nature of cinema in the Rotten Tomatoes age. But as I say in my video review above, Crowe’s “love letter to Hawaii” had me at hello […] The supporting cast includes John Krasinski, in a terrific hangdog performance from as McAdams’ husband; Bill Murray; Danny McBride; and Alec Baldwin as a hilariously over-the-top Air Force general. Some of the plotting does get a big convoluted at times, but the core of the film is solid, and Cooper, McAdams and Stone deliver complex people I liked spending a couple of hours with. Given half a chance, I hope there is an audience out there that just might agree with me.”
–Pete Hammond, Deadline
“[…] Despite a few overstated exchanges, McAdams brings a wistful, believable confusion to her role.”
–Sheri Linden, THR
3,5/5 stars
“The director’s latest effort is a Cameron Crowe film through and through – a heartfelt, funny and honest, albeit a little messy, romantic comedy […] When it comes to the “love triangle” between them, admittedly a guy torn between women that look like Rachel McAdams and Emma Stone reads as flat drama on paper, but it’s nothing of the sort in execution.”
–Jack Giroux, Bullz Eye
“Cooper has charming chemistry with McAdams in individual scenes, but their relationship never quite gels.”
–Andrew Barker, Variety
“If it makes any money it’ll be due to star power. Cooper, like the film itself, gets off to a rough start, seemingly unsure of what he’s doing, then hits a groove. It’s no shock that Stone and McAdams fit right into the Crowe-iverse, though neither, it should be noted, is strictly manic or pixie, despite both being dream girls […] Though “Aloha” is definitely a Cameron Crowe movie, there’s a feeling of trying new things, from heading off to Hawaii. He doesn’t get fully away from that, but in this sometimes clumsy, usually fun, more-silly-than-serious outing, he makes a renewed case for himself as a singular artist. This is a movie, for better or worse, but generally for better, with a real voice.”
–Matt Prigge, Metro
3,5/4 stars
“Though “Aloha” is set in the culture of satellites, the true focus is the way most of the people in it explore possibility and self-discovery. It’s an emotionally exposed, ironic ramble through the Pacific frontier. How delightful to see a film that begins and closes in outer space be so warmly stargazing.”
–Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
“One problem here is that Stone is in kooky-character mode, while McAdams embodies a bittersweet realism and Cooper swings between the acting styles of his two co-stars.”
–Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“There are some lovely moments of humor and depth that do succeed — including a long-lead joke that is used to brilliant effect in one of the final scenes. McAdams and Cooper also have wonderful chemistry and a deeply felt wistfulness over their romantic past. Their scenes together are the film’s rare bright spot and a reminder of Crowe’s unique strength as an idiosyncratic voice.”
–Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press
“He’s not home-free, though. Cooper is very good, and Rachel McAdams is as warmly vulnerable as ever as his ex-girl. But there are some problems with Captain Ng.”
–Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
