Ralph Fiennes
F. Murray Abraham
Mathieu Amalric
Adrien Brody
Willem Dafoe
Jeff Goldblum
Harvey Keitel
Jude Law
Bill Murray
Edward Norton
Saoirse Ronan
Jason Schwartzman
Léa Seydoux
Tilda Swinton
Tom Wilkinson
Owen Wilson
Tony Revolori

Wes Anderson

99 mins.
Comedy, Drama
March 28, 2014

Rated R for language, some sexual content and violence. (MPAA)

Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” has all of the hallmarks of every other Wes Anderson film: It’s beautifully shot with vibrantly clear colors; it’s intentionally stylized; and it finds itself funny. (You need to be in on the joke to enjoy it fully.)

It certainly is a lot of fun to look at. Some of the images are astonishingly beautiful and vivid. I wasn’t expecting much from this film, because I’ve seen many of Anderson’s films and have tired of them for the most part. After “Rushmore” and “The Royal Tennenbaums,” Anderson has been like a comedian who tells the same joke, in different ways, over and over again, just because it worked the first time. I’d like to hear new ones, please … and thank you.

Despite that, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” may be the best representation of his skills as a director. Unlike some of his previous efforts, this film is perfectly paced. There are no lagging moments, and the pacing moves along briskly. And the whole thing’s finished in a little over an hour and a half.

While I appreciate its masterful style, as with all of Anderson’s films, its tone appeals to me only somewhat. It just doesn’t knock me out, but that’s OK. There’s just not much to care about because of the superficiality that Anderson brings to all of his films.

At the very least, I was interested in what was going on at all times, though. Once again, Anderson has brought together a cast that has diverse experience in the film industry. They all understand how to deliver his material, and Ralph Fiennes is a great choice as the lead. His stage experience pays off nicely here. Plus, all of the beats are immaculately executed. And all of the running around in this film is hilarious.

So there’s much to like in this film. I also liked how the story starts by referencing a book and then the film itself takes on the structure of a storybook or a silent film, even, which is mirrored by the visuals. Those visuals are going to stick with me; I won’t forget them. Plus, it reminded me of “The Princess Bride” in some ways, but with a completely different sense of humor.

Overall, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” worked for me, even though I didn’t love it. It’s something to be dazzled by, if only fleetingly. There are still stars in my eyes.

Verdict: Good to Very Good

About: (Source: tribute.ca/grandbudapest)

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.

The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune — all against the backdrop of a suddenly and dramatically changing continent.