Aloha - D

Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone and Rachel McAdams

Rated PG-13, 105 minutes

Crowe's dreadful, contrived rom com "Aloha" is one to skip

There are not one, but two disaster movies opening this weekend, the earthquake disaster "San Andreas" and then the unintentional romantic comedy disaster, "Aloha," filmed two years ago but delayed because, and no secrets by now, but it's not that good. In spite of a great cast and lovely scenery, this is a big disappointment and one of the year's least compelling, forced romantic comedies. Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper) is a defense contractor who falls for Allison Ng (Emma Stone), an Air Force pilot, after he is assigned to oversee the launch of a weapons satellite from Hawaii, though he runs into some challenges when he finds an old flame (the always lovely Rachel McAdams who deserves better than this). Directed and written by Cameron Crowe, a talented director and writer who seemingly peaked awhile ago, "Aloha" is an unmitigated mess of a movie that rang so false and is so all over the place it gave me a headache. Native Hawaiians are understandably upset by its racial inequality, but movie goers should be the real ones upset by it all, as this badly written and directed movie wastes a talented cast with a tedious, baffling backstory about weapons and rockets; as well, one crucial plot point is so casually thrown away in the last act I wondered why Crowe even bothered with such a contrivance. Cooper and Stone's romance, which should've been the main focus of the movie, is secondary to all the unnecessary screentime devoted to the rockets and the McAdams character and her family, including a badly miscast John Krasinksi as her husband. Bill Murray, as an eccentric billionaire with ulterior motives, has a few good moments, but his time is too brief and even that feels like he's acting in another movie altogether. Besides Murray, the other few bright spots in "Aloha": Cooper and Stone (this plays to some of her more annoyingly hyper tendencies) are an appealing couple with little chemistry given their minimal screentime together, the handsome photography highlights the lovely Hawaiian scenery, and the unique, memorable score from alt-folk-rock group Jonsi & Alex brightens up the movie. In spite of all that, I still didn't buy into a moment of this, especially the pat, sentimental ending, and considering everyone involved, "Aloha" is a dreadful, unfortunate misfire for Crowe. For old times sake, rent "Jerry Maguire," which had you at hello, and say goodbye to "Aloha."