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Baggage Claim

4/10

Stars: Paula Patton, Derek Luke, Taye Diggs, Jill Scott, Boris Kodjoe, Tremaine Neverson, Adam Brody, Jenifer Lewis, Ned Beatty, Lauren London, Tia Mowry, La La Anthony, Christina Milian, Affion Crockett, Terrence J, Rickey Smiley, Thomas Miles, Djimon Hounsou

Director: David E Talbert

When the man whom love-seeking airhostess Paula Patton finally and predictably ends up with turns out to be called ‘Mr Wright’, you can be pretty certain that writer and director (it’s based on his own novel) David E Talbert hasn’t missed any major romcom genre clichés.

And you would be right.

The seen-it-all-before story has Patton desperate to find her Mr Right before her sister’s wedding. And so Patton, helped by friends Jill Scott and Adam Brody, embarks on a 30,000 mile (fortunately her job means she never has to pay for flights!) to re-connect with previous boyfriends, find out why they didn’t mesh first time around, and finally find a man to trump her sister.

Tabert’s tale is as smooth as a perfect long-haul flight and, probably, as easy to get to sleep during its telling. In fact, for my money it would be an ideal in-flight movie, painless, familiar and easy to forget.

Nobody acts badly; nobody acts memorably, mild performances are matched by equally predictable plotting and dialogue. As for the ‘com’ aspect of ‘romcom’ genuine laughs are largely notably by their absence. Every aspect of the movie marks it as the bland leading the bland.

As chick flicks go, this one never quite hatches from the egg.

Alan Frank

USA 2013. UK Distributor: 20th Century Fox (Fox 2000). Colour by deluxe.
96 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 11 Oct 2013