Logan
Opens March 3in theatersnationwide.
Mangold shoots the film in a grungy, south-of-the-border Peckinpah palette.
There isnt a lot of hope in the movie.
The stakes arent grandiose, no ones saving the world.
Since Lauras mutant physical gifts are so identical to Logans, theres a melancholy to their relationship.
Shes the daughter he never slowed down enough to allow himself to have.
The loner has to learn to put someone else first.
But theres also something about the film that leaves a sour aftertaste.
Its answers are offered up too easy.
Theyre too spoon-fed and trite.
It makes light of the grueling process of grieving for a loved one.
Just have faith, the movie says, and you too will be at peace.
All thats missing in the films bucolic spiritual way-station is a cornfield.
What were left with is a romantic comedy thats neither cute nor funny.
It just feels half-baked and phoned in.
Even the cheesy wedding bands playlist of 80s hits feels cribbed fromThe Wedding Singer.
The first half of the film builds with expertly cranked white-knuckle tension.
For a film thats asking hard questions, it takes the easy way out.
Still, Peele is undeniably a born filmmaker with big ambitions and an even bigger set of balls.
It flirts with being too much of a good thing.
