Great cast, but unfortunate movie to be hired for. plot was difficult to follow and character development weak. at times comical when it wasn't supposed to be. oh well...at least I watched it while in Hawaii which made it slightly more interesting...better luck next time for these actors!
288 Reviews
Talent wasted
Horst_In_Translation15 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
In theory, this sounds like a really promising project. The writer and director is Academy Award winner Cameron Crowe. Lead actor is Bradley Cooper, who scored 3 Academy award nominations in a row recently. Supporting actresses are Rachel McAdams and Emma Stone who have decent talent and are both recent Oscar nominees too. Bill Murray is a personal favorite and I don't mind Alec Baldwin either. I saw the rating, but sometimes I like films that are not considered great by most others, but this 105-minute film here does not fall under this category.
Such a shame. I am not the greatest Bradley Cooper fan and I don't really see that much talent in him. This movie confirms my theory that he is one of the most overrated actors right now. Here he is stuck between a former girlfriend and a new woman who enters his life. Also this film deals with the interests of indigenous Hawaiian citizens in an attempt to be also socially relevant. Unfortunately, it fails in almost every regard. The love story feels never credible and the script reduces the talented cast to a couple terrible lines and their mannerisms aren't much better. The drama is equally forgettable. It is so by the books, nothing unpredictable (sadly nothing realistic either) and it's certainly not a good watch.
What is there left to say. If you want a truly great film about Hawaiian culture, let me recommend you Alexander Payne's "The Descendants" starring George Clooney. It also offers plots in terms of family struggles like this film here, but it's all so much more refined, better-written and better acted. "Aloha" is not a convincing watch at all and what pains me most is watching Bill Murray, an actor I usually adore, play such a stupid character. What were they thinking. The worst was when they turn him into some crazy scientist villain in the end. What the hell? That came so out of nowhere and suddenly Baldwin's character is the good guy. Yes that was unexpected, I have to correct myself, but in the worst possible way. And of course, in the end of the film, everything is fixed, all relationships, professional and personal, are perfectly fine. Cringeworthy stuff. Not recommended.
Such a shame. I am not the greatest Bradley Cooper fan and I don't really see that much talent in him. This movie confirms my theory that he is one of the most overrated actors right now. Here he is stuck between a former girlfriend and a new woman who enters his life. Also this film deals with the interests of indigenous Hawaiian citizens in an attempt to be also socially relevant. Unfortunately, it fails in almost every regard. The love story feels never credible and the script reduces the talented cast to a couple terrible lines and their mannerisms aren't much better. The drama is equally forgettable. It is so by the books, nothing unpredictable (sadly nothing realistic either) and it's certainly not a good watch.
What is there left to say. If you want a truly great film about Hawaiian culture, let me recommend you Alexander Payne's "The Descendants" starring George Clooney. It also offers plots in terms of family struggles like this film here, but it's all so much more refined, better-written and better acted. "Aloha" is not a convincing watch at all and what pains me most is watching Bill Murray, an actor I usually adore, play such a stupid character. What were they thinking. The worst was when they turn him into some crazy scientist villain in the end. What the hell? That came so out of nowhere and suddenly Baldwin's character is the good guy. Yes that was unexpected, I have to correct myself, but in the worst possible way. And of course, in the end of the film, everything is fixed, all relationships, professional and personal, are perfectly fine. Cringeworthy stuff. Not recommended.
Confusing
SwollenThumb28 April 2018
Loveable actors playing mostly unbelievable characters in an unbelievable plot that hinges on a boy's video recording. Mixed soundtrack as confusing as rest of the movie. The elements were all there for a great film but writer/director Crow didn't know in which direction to take it.
Aloha is identity crisis masquerading as a movie.
lnvicta12 December 2015
Aloha has absolutely no idea what it wants to be. If I had to count, I'd say there are about 10 subplots in this movie which is about 9 too many for a romcom. Sure, it's based on real-life, but that's no excuse to make a terrible movie. It's a chore to watch this thing, it took me three separate sittings before I can make it to the end without falling asleep or dying of boredom. Its tone is probably the worst offender. Like I said, it has no idea what it wants to be, so it tries to be everything. A love story, a political statement, a bittersweet comedy, a tense drama-mystery about a guy trying to control space - it does not mesh well at all. I had forgotten Alec Baldwin was even in the movie at one point, and that was probably the most interesting storyline in the damn thing. It's frustrating because there is a good story in there! Somewhere! I think. It's hard to tell with all the surrounding sh*t.
The cast is the only good thing about this movie. It's just a shame watching them have to recite this terrible dialogue to one another. They even have chemistry at times which helps during the cringe-y moments, but convincing acting doesn't make a bad script good. It just makes a bad script... somewhat watchable. But don't watch it. It sucks.
The cast is the only good thing about this movie. It's just a shame watching them have to recite this terrible dialogue to one another. They even have chemistry at times which helps during the cringe-y moments, but convincing acting doesn't make a bad script good. It just makes a bad script... somewhat watchable. But don't watch it. It sucks.
A little gem, to see without prejudice
joaquinnq19 December 2016
It is not easy to encapsulate Aloha in a genre. It's not the usual Rom-Com, although the argument might lead one to believe that yes. The main thread describes the dramatic arc of a man centered on his work, capable of loving, but with difficulty to engage in lasting relationships. In addition, the film explores some manifestations of Hawaiian culture and parody some clichés about military conflicts and conspiracies, with unequal effectiveness.
The speed with which Aloha travels from one genre to another, sometimes in the middle of the same scene or dialogue, must have confused more than one viewer. It is understood that it has not reached a greater success, between the public and the critic.
But Aloha has beautiful details to watch and taste, combining serious and emotive subjects with a fine humor, in a delicate balance.
Also, it is a film with an outstanding casting. The protagonists do their work. Rachel McAdams is charming. It's a pleasure to see Bill Murray. And it is remarkable the discovery of Danielle Rose Russell, a young actress who delivers a memorable performance, to close a light and touching film, that tackles serious issues without taking them too seriously.
The speed with which Aloha travels from one genre to another, sometimes in the middle of the same scene or dialogue, must have confused more than one viewer. It is understood that it has not reached a greater success, between the public and the critic.
But Aloha has beautiful details to watch and taste, combining serious and emotive subjects with a fine humor, in a delicate balance.
Also, it is a film with an outstanding casting. The protagonists do their work. Rachel McAdams is charming. It's a pleasure to see Bill Murray. And it is remarkable the discovery of Danielle Rose Russell, a young actress who delivers a memorable performance, to close a light and touching film, that tackles serious issues without taking them too seriously.
A mess holding gems, as pearls in cow flop
Grimmell73-212-55284912 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I sat stunned as the credits began to roll. "What the bleep WAS that?" I asked my wife. "What just happened?" She shrugged and smiled. I took that to mean she didn't know, either.
Nor was our confusion unfounded. The filmmakers threw into "Aloha" just about every plot device they could find, hoping at least one of them would work, and in one or two cases they succeeded, but my God, at what terrible price?
Forget Emma Stone not being Hawaiian, although that actually did start to bug me. Far more important is that for the first third of the film, she played her part as if she had just shot meth. Many lines were delivered so rapidly (and perkily) that neither my wife nor I could understand what she had said. Body language, gestures, even breathing all way too fast. Creepy and unsettling. And she was all over Brad Cooper in a way that makes "cartoonish" seem somehow inadequate as a description.
But of course, she's part-Hawaiian, possibly from the Scandinavian portion of the Big Island, so of course she saves the big deal with the native Hawaiians to enable the building of the new industrial plants for the not-Space-X CEO, played by a Bill Murray whose face seemed permanently caught in a Vise Grip, possibly because he was as inappropriately cast as if he had been tapped to play Queen Elizabeth. And of course he's decided to conceal inside his new South Pacific satellite a single nuclear warhead, because I guess that would be a big win. And Stone has warned Cooper (who acts as if "corporate tool" is tattooed on his forehead) that Bill Murray is weaponizing space just as the wise yet simple island natives feared, so when he grunts and twitches his eyebrows to indicate his intent to Do His Job she dumps him, in a scene that screams "you're way better off without her."
So we have the wise-primitives-trying-to-stop-evil-modernity-from- ruining-our-planet plot, and the will-they-or-won't-they plot, and Rachel McAdams as the One He Left Behind plot, but now things get really confusing. Because Cooper suddenly turns into James Bond, wiping out the Chinese attempt to hack the satellite (which they do because, uh...) and then he and his fat buddy (because fat guys and computer guys are the same thing in Hollywood) hack the satellite themselves and stop Bill Murray from taking over the world with his single nuclear warhead by essentially distributing plutonium dust over half the planet. Thereby killing millions of people. But we don't get to see that part; that's the hook for the sequel.
But we're not done yet! We have to throw in the general-blowing-his- stack plot, and the "you mean I'm a father?" plot, and oh Lord I'm sure I forgot a plot or two. I had to go home and hide. What a mess! It was like the execrable "Cannonball Run" with Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise, except those guys actually hired James Bond (Roger Moore), they didn't have one guy play his part and all the others to boot.
In the midst of this polymelic chopped salad of a movie, three things stood out as actual redeeming features. First, Rachel McAdams plays her character perfectly, and it's a well-drawn character. Second, her husband, played by John Krasinski, was equally excellent in a very understated part that got the only intentional laughs of the film. And finally, their daughter, played by Danielle Rose Russell, showed an emoting capacity which, at her age, portends an excellent future. Those things worked, and could have been the whole plot line of a much better movie.
The rest stunk.
Nor was our confusion unfounded. The filmmakers threw into "Aloha" just about every plot device they could find, hoping at least one of them would work, and in one or two cases they succeeded, but my God, at what terrible price?
Forget Emma Stone not being Hawaiian, although that actually did start to bug me. Far more important is that for the first third of the film, she played her part as if she had just shot meth. Many lines were delivered so rapidly (and perkily) that neither my wife nor I could understand what she had said. Body language, gestures, even breathing all way too fast. Creepy and unsettling. And she was all over Brad Cooper in a way that makes "cartoonish" seem somehow inadequate as a description.
But of course, she's part-Hawaiian, possibly from the Scandinavian portion of the Big Island, so of course she saves the big deal with the native Hawaiians to enable the building of the new industrial plants for the not-Space-X CEO, played by a Bill Murray whose face seemed permanently caught in a Vise Grip, possibly because he was as inappropriately cast as if he had been tapped to play Queen Elizabeth. And of course he's decided to conceal inside his new South Pacific satellite a single nuclear warhead, because I guess that would be a big win. And Stone has warned Cooper (who acts as if "corporate tool" is tattooed on his forehead) that Bill Murray is weaponizing space just as the wise yet simple island natives feared, so when he grunts and twitches his eyebrows to indicate his intent to Do His Job she dumps him, in a scene that screams "you're way better off without her."
So we have the wise-primitives-trying-to-stop-evil-modernity-from- ruining-our-planet plot, and the will-they-or-won't-they plot, and Rachel McAdams as the One He Left Behind plot, but now things get really confusing. Because Cooper suddenly turns into James Bond, wiping out the Chinese attempt to hack the satellite (which they do because, uh...) and then he and his fat buddy (because fat guys and computer guys are the same thing in Hollywood) hack the satellite themselves and stop Bill Murray from taking over the world with his single nuclear warhead by essentially distributing plutonium dust over half the planet. Thereby killing millions of people. But we don't get to see that part; that's the hook for the sequel.
But we're not done yet! We have to throw in the general-blowing-his- stack plot, and the "you mean I'm a father?" plot, and oh Lord I'm sure I forgot a plot or two. I had to go home and hide. What a mess! It was like the execrable "Cannonball Run" with Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise, except those guys actually hired James Bond (Roger Moore), they didn't have one guy play his part and all the others to boot.
In the midst of this polymelic chopped salad of a movie, three things stood out as actual redeeming features. First, Rachel McAdams plays her character perfectly, and it's a well-drawn character. Second, her husband, played by John Krasinski, was equally excellent in a very understated part that got the only intentional laughs of the film. And finally, their daughter, played by Danielle Rose Russell, showed an emoting capacity which, at her age, portends an excellent future. Those things worked, and could have been the whole plot line of a much better movie.
The rest stunk.
It was good despite the rating
melodyjarredondo6 April 2016
I was excited when I saw the cast of this film only to find out that it had a pretty poor rating. A friend had even recommended it to me, but I questioned her judgment compared to what apparently 30k people have thought about it. But I finally decided to give it a go, and it was worth it. I honestly don't know why it has such a low rating. The film is definitely slower, but it's the feel of the movie. I thought it was interesting, romantic, and funny. It even made me laugh out loud a few times. I loved Emma's character but Bradley Cooper's character took a little warming up to. If you go into it with an open mind, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
A farce
Vanillaalmond9 August 2015
This movie is somehow all over the place, threads begin but do not end, connections exist but how and why is not explained. I felt like I was watching a movie that is great inside the head of the writer/director but he knows the story to well and forgets to tell us half of it.It's like it is trying to be everything for everybody and while doing that failing in all aspects. The whole military plot thing is strange, lots of people are just there and we are never told why or even who they are.
This is not a feel good movie, it is a feel strange movie leaving you with lots of questions, the main one being why?
This is not a feel good movie, it is a feel strange movie leaving you with lots of questions, the main one being why?
Are The Critics On Drugs?
TheAnimalMother9 October 2015
Mostly panned by critics, I have to say, I really didn't mind this film at all. The critics are simply wrong here, at least to my tastes they are. A few aspects may not have worked so well, sure, but I feel many aspects did work quite well. I enjoyed the vast subject matter, the entertaining cast, and the unique energy this film has. The storytelling here in my view is another interesting one in a long line of good and different Cameron Crowe films. When most of Hollywood is making very safe and predictable films, at least we still have a few American directors willing to do something different and willing to bring attention to often overlooked (or even new), issues. Most of all though it is the very grounded human feelings in Cameron Crowe films that really make them work for me. This is no exception. To me this was a fun, heartfelt, and somewhat thought provoking film. The critics can keep giving mindless films like Guardians of the Galaxy and Mad Max:Fury Road good reviews, but for me, this film kicks both their asses easily. 7/10
So bad it will make you cringe with discomfort
er_ouz29 September 2015
Rarely have I seen such a bad film from a major studio release and with A or B list stars in it, but this truly is one of the worst movies I've seen recently. I would try to sum up the plot, but it's meaningless, as this movie is not a whole,flowing story, but rather a checklist of markers through which the scenes pass and tick the box, and hurry on to the next marker on the list.
By eliminating any character and story growth and simply jumping to the bottom line in every scene, some scenes are just so awkward and... just bad, they will make you cringe with discomfort, not only because they're so lame in themselves, but because they're so obvious and scripted that it's pathetic.
I really like light Rom-Com's, and I enjoy a film that doesn't take itself too seriously- but this one is so bad it actually made me sad.
By eliminating any character and story growth and simply jumping to the bottom line in every scene, some scenes are just so awkward and... just bad, they will make you cringe with discomfort, not only because they're so lame in themselves, but because they're so obvious and scripted that it's pathetic.
I really like light Rom-Com's, and I enjoy a film that doesn't take itself too seriously- but this one is so bad it actually made me sad.
Ignore the media on this one
nesdon-27 June 2015
As a film maker and former film school professor, I have a lot of my students as friends on Facebook. Many of them, most notably ones of Asian descent, came out full of vitriol and condemnation of this film, many of them before they had even seen it, as did a lot of the popular media.
IGNORE THEM! This is Cameron Crowe back in form. The film in no way disrespects Hawaiian culture or ignores its aboriginal and Asian populations, in fact it celebrates them. Emma Stone as a character named Allison Ng ("My dad was half Chinese and half Hawaiian... so I'm 1/4 Hawaiian") had to be played by a white actress in that she is referencing exactly that desire of some white people to pawn themselves off as ethic. She does it marvelously.
In fact the whole cast is amazing, with a script that absolutely sparkles, especially in its frequent nods to non-verbal communication. The last, most moving and completely wordless scene is worth the price of admission. Danielle Rose Russell's performance in this scene is breathtaking, and she is completely luminous through out, even though she has only a handful of lines.
Others with only handfuls of lines who make the film really shine are John Krazinski, Bill Murray and Alex Baldwin. The three leads are all amazing, with Stone a little over the top (tho appropriate for her character) and I think this is as good a work as Rachel McAdams has ever done.
I have to admit that the plotting of the whole military contractor subplot had a few too many little deus ex machina bows tied around it, but it was all maguffin for the beautiful insights into human heart and its connections anyway. And not nearly as preposterous as the embarrassing Elizabethtown.
I put a lot of store in IMDb ratings, and I have never seen them as far off the mark as they are with this film. I am a progressive, and expect cultural respect from Hollywood, but this may be another sad case of the hidden ability for random accusations of political incorrectness to cow the media.
IGNORE THEM! This is Cameron Crowe back in form. The film in no way disrespects Hawaiian culture or ignores its aboriginal and Asian populations, in fact it celebrates them. Emma Stone as a character named Allison Ng ("My dad was half Chinese and half Hawaiian... so I'm 1/4 Hawaiian") had to be played by a white actress in that she is referencing exactly that desire of some white people to pawn themselves off as ethic. She does it marvelously.
In fact the whole cast is amazing, with a script that absolutely sparkles, especially in its frequent nods to non-verbal communication. The last, most moving and completely wordless scene is worth the price of admission. Danielle Rose Russell's performance in this scene is breathtaking, and she is completely luminous through out, even though she has only a handful of lines.
Others with only handfuls of lines who make the film really shine are John Krazinski, Bill Murray and Alex Baldwin. The three leads are all amazing, with Stone a little over the top (tho appropriate for her character) and I think this is as good a work as Rachel McAdams has ever done.
I have to admit that the plotting of the whole military contractor subplot had a few too many little deus ex machina bows tied around it, but it was all maguffin for the beautiful insights into human heart and its connections anyway. And not nearly as preposterous as the embarrassing Elizabethtown.
I put a lot of store in IMDb ratings, and I have never seen them as far off the mark as they are with this film. I am a progressive, and expect cultural respect from Hollywood, but this may be another sad case of the hidden ability for random accusations of political incorrectness to cow the media.
Glad I didn't read "reviews" before watching this movie!
annettedhall29 May 2015
The movie features an all star cast each having an amazing talent for expressing the emotions of their characters into fully 3 dimensional people: emotions, brokenness, past history, failures, etc. I actually expected this to be a "low brainer" movie. How wrong I was and so glad that I took the time to discover this movie is rare gem. .... OK some reviewers were / are expecting these actors to revive past roles that blew minds just to drag in an audience. Nah, that would be too simple! Instead Cameron Crowe utilized the known strengths of each of the actors in a truly romantic (comedy) using their individual skills to tell the story. (I will leave up for debate whether he (Crowe) was capitalizing on past performances) . Love the cast and the story. Only sort of negative would be to include more local Hawaii natives to flesh out their love of culture. That said the natives that do appear are delightful. Enjoy this movie with these thoughts in mind. As for me I must see it again soon!
Aloha (2015, Cameron Crowe) Bizarrely confused misstep from Crowe
hoernkeem11 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Aloha (2015, Cameron Crowe)
Cameron Crowe is somewhat of an anomaly. He produced some truly amazing films including one of my all-time favorites in "Almost Famous." Recently he has had some missteps with his films including his last outing "We Bought a Zoo" and again with his latest film, "Aloha." He assembles an amazing cast and sets the film in Hawaii but every performance is out of bounds weird from Emma Stone's crazily energetic fighter pilot to John Krasinsky's almost mute performance playing Rachael McAdams air force pilot husband. This film also tries to pull itself in two utterly opposite directions. There is the fairly standard romantic comedy angle and then there is this serious side dealing with the privatization of space travel headed by Bill Murray in another completely odd casting choice and rare non-comedic, antagonist role for Murray. Bradley Cooper plays Brian Gilchrest who was an Air Force guy who messed up in the field and found himself ostracized. Now he is invited back in on a limited basis as a contractor and he returns after years away to Hawaii where his ex has remarried and the Air Force pairs a young, up and coming pilot with him to babysit him or monitor his activities or something like that. Like a lot of this film many of the motivations are unclear. What's clear is that there is going to be a very odd, awkward love triangle between Stone, Cooper and McAdams and an even odder working situation as Cooper struggles with the ethics of working for Murray who may be attempting to take his control of space travel to the next level by deploying weapons in the sky which would be controlled by his company. Mix into this completely odd, politicized romantic comedy Hawaiian lore and legends, and you have a film that just meanders all over the place and never really finds its way. This film is just a hot mess from start to finish with it's odd storyline and completely wacky performances from just about everyone involved. I always hope that Crowe will return to the form that brought us such gems as "Almost Famous" and "Jerry Maguire" but here again is just another swing and a miss.
Eric's Grade: D+
Confusing and Terrible
jleeharris-3699118 September 2020
The scenes seem out of order and not connected. Bradley Cooper's voice sounds dubbed. There is no chemistry with Emma Stone and the plot with Rachel McAdams is awkward. This was boring and not really entertaining. I kept hoping for it to perk up, but it never did. I can't believe actors read this script and agreed to do it. it seems like they added in Bill Murray at eh last minute and made up really bad dialogue. This was so bad.
A billionaire wants to launch a private payload.
michaelRokeefe6 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Written and directed by Cameron Crowe, ALOHA, is actually a romantic comedy in search of something redeemable. Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper) is a somewhat disgraced military defense contractor that is trying to smooth over a sensitive situation, when he represents billionaire Carlson Welch (Bill Murray), who is eager to launch a private rocket from an Hawaiian island military base.
Things will get a bit complicated with issues concerning a Hawaiian leader (Dennis Kanahele); Gilcrest's former girlfriend Tracy (Rachel McAdams), who is now married with two children; and an alluring fighter pilot Capt. Allison Ng (Emma Stone), who is assigned to be his military liaison, escort and watchdog.
Plenty of characters to develop; a thing Crowe does so well. Tracy's son (Jaeden Lieberher) is obsessed with Hawaiian mythology and outer space. Tracy's daughter (Danielle Rose Russell) is discovering her womanhood and doesn't know that Brian is her real father.
My favorite scenes are when Stone dances with Murray at a party and when Cooper and Stone finally embrace for the first time. The story line is hindered by its choppiness, but there is a real "feel good" attitude about the movie. Also starring: Alec Baldwin, John Krasinski, Danny McBride and Michael Chermus. Personally, Miss Stone made the movie for me.
A very full soundtrack features the likes of: Hall & Oates, Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Andy Iona and His Islanders, Tears For Fears, David Crosby, George Martin, Beck and Elvis Presley.
Things will get a bit complicated with issues concerning a Hawaiian leader (Dennis Kanahele); Gilcrest's former girlfriend Tracy (Rachel McAdams), who is now married with two children; and an alluring fighter pilot Capt. Allison Ng (Emma Stone), who is assigned to be his military liaison, escort and watchdog.
Plenty of characters to develop; a thing Crowe does so well. Tracy's son (Jaeden Lieberher) is obsessed with Hawaiian mythology and outer space. Tracy's daughter (Danielle Rose Russell) is discovering her womanhood and doesn't know that Brian is her real father.
My favorite scenes are when Stone dances with Murray at a party and when Cooper and Stone finally embrace for the first time. The story line is hindered by its choppiness, but there is a real "feel good" attitude about the movie. Also starring: Alec Baldwin, John Krasinski, Danny McBride and Michael Chermus. Personally, Miss Stone made the movie for me.
A very full soundtrack features the likes of: Hall & Oates, Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Andy Iona and His Islanders, Tears For Fears, David Crosby, George Martin, Beck and Elvis Presley.
Terrible
jackburto20 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was a cinematic mess. The movie was disorganized and filled with subplots. There really wasn't a hard plot. If you want to be pulled in several directions without a destination, then this is the movie for you. There was one neat foreshadowing scene that led up to an interaction between Brian Gilcrest, played by Bradley Cooper, and Woody Woodside, played by John Krasinski. This scene and the scene between Brian Gilcrest and Grace, played by Danielle Rose Russell, near the end were the only redeeming quality to the film; otherwise the movie would have received one star. Do yourself a favor and wait until its been released on DVD for about a year before giving it a look. Caution: you may still regret it.
"Aloha" is a typical Cameron Crowe film - a little disjointed, but with a terrific cast, great character development and delightfully quirky dialog.
CleveMan6630 May 2015
The focus of Cameron Crowe's films has evolved, but they have consistently expressed a style that is all his own. The writer/director of "Aloha" (PG-13, 1:45) has brought us over a dozen movies since the early 1980s. Crowe has served as both writer and director on most of them, meaning that each one expresses who he is as a filmmaker and as a man – consistent, open, sensitive and quirky – along with reflecting where he is on life's journey at any given time. Except for an occasional fantasy/mystery ("Vanilla Sky") or musical documentary (one on Tom Petty and one on Pearl Jam), most of Crowe's films have been comedies, each with a generous helping of drama thrown in and usually a good bit of romance as well.
But his focus has evolved. His early films are membered as iconic and eminently quotable: "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982), "Say Anything" (1989), "Singles" (1992) and "Jerry Maguire" (1996). With those last two, we start to see Crowe focus more on the concept of family, in a wide variety of forms. "Almost Famous" (2000) and "We Bought a Zoo" (2011) continued that trend. "Jerry Maguire" and "Almost Famous" also signal the beginning of a shift in which Crowe's films increasingly emphasize one central character seeking redemption for past mistakes and/or simply sorting out what really matters to him and trying to find his place in the world. It's a style that's even more pronounced in 2005's "Elizabethtown" and 2015's "Aloha". But through all these shifts, remaining remarkably consistent have been Crowe's strong doses of character development and fun, quirky dialog.
The central character in "Aloha" is Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper), a former Air Force officer who is now a defense contractor working for billionaire Carson Welch (Bill Murray). Welch is one of the many rich businessmen who, in this age of dwindling budgets, the military depends on to help finance its satellites. Welch is a bit of a mystery, but not so Gilcrest. It's not hard to see where he's coming from. Once an idealistic young man fascinated with outer space, he has become cynical and virtually swallowed up by the compromises he has made to enhance his love life, his bank account and his position in the world. Over time, all this has caught up with him and now he finds himself with no moral or romantic compass, his looks and his charm seeming to be all that's getting him through life. While deployed to Afghanistan, he made a couple big mistakes – one that almost ended his life and one that did end his military career. As the film opens, he's headed to Hawaii, his old stomping grounds, to negotiate a deal with the locals that will allow the military to expand one of their bases and to launch new satellites.
What Gilcrest thinks will be a simple mission that will take less than a week and give him a chance to get back in the game is complicated by ghosts from his past and new challenges in his present. When he lands in Honolulu, Gilcrest reunites with an odd former Air Force buddy, Colonel "Fingers" Lacy (Danny McBride) and he's also confronted with old flame Tracy Woodside (Rachel McAdams). She dumped him 13 years prior and married a stable but quiet (practically non-communicative) Air Force pilot named John "Woody" Woodside (John Krasinski). Tracy also has a 12-year-old daughter named Grace (Danielle Rose Russell) who is trying to overcome her tween awkwardness by learning to dance the hula, and a 9-year-old son named Mitchell (Jaeden Lieberher) who is awkwardly obsessed with using his video camera to record everything and also spouting Hawaiian mythology and legends to anyone who will listen. While he's forced to confront his past, Gilcrest's overriding present concern is dealing with the extremely dedicated and overly perky Air Force liaison, Captain Allison Ng (pronounced "Ing"), played by Emma Stone. Being one-quarter Hawaiian (as she keeps telling everyone), meticulous in the performance of her duties, and fascinated with the man in whom she sees greatness while still referring to as "a wreck", she insists on tagging along for a scheduled meeting between Gilcrest and his old acquaintance Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahale. Playing himself, he's President of what he calls "The Hawaiian Nation". Bumpy and his compatriots consider the over century-long American presence in Hawaii as a military occupation. It's going to take all of Gilcrest's negotiating skill and all of Ng's deferential idealism to convince Bumpy to give his blessing to the expansion of the Air Force base. Meanwhile, suspiciously watching all of this from the sidelines is General Dixon (Alec Baldwin), a man who hates Gilcrest and may or may not be involved in some shady dealings with Murray's character. "Aloha" fits the mold of a typical Cameron Crowe film – a great cast with a somewhat disjointed but pleasant story. Through most of the movie, it seems that Crowe couldn't decide if he wanted this movie to be a romantic comedy, a military drama or an ode to Hawaiian history and culture, much like "The Descendants" (2011). As you're watching Crowe's story unfold, you begin to wonder if "Aloha" exists mainly so we can watch the pretty people dance around each other, both literally and figuratively, but the pieces do eventually fit together. The film's last 20 or so minutes become very focused, dramatic, romantic and even joyful. Along the way, the talented cast is a pleasure to watch, the dialog tickles the ear, the scenery provides a beautiful backdrop for the goings-on and there are some very memorable scenes. An ongoing joke about unspoken communication earns a big payoff at the end of the movie and Alec Baldwin's big scene is every bit as funny as in the trailers. In short, this isn't a perfect movie, but it's a nearly perfect Cameron Crowe movie, with as many meanings as that one-word title has in the land of its origin. "B+"
But his focus has evolved. His early films are membered as iconic and eminently quotable: "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982), "Say Anything" (1989), "Singles" (1992) and "Jerry Maguire" (1996). With those last two, we start to see Crowe focus more on the concept of family, in a wide variety of forms. "Almost Famous" (2000) and "We Bought a Zoo" (2011) continued that trend. "Jerry Maguire" and "Almost Famous" also signal the beginning of a shift in which Crowe's films increasingly emphasize one central character seeking redemption for past mistakes and/or simply sorting out what really matters to him and trying to find his place in the world. It's a style that's even more pronounced in 2005's "Elizabethtown" and 2015's "Aloha". But through all these shifts, remaining remarkably consistent have been Crowe's strong doses of character development and fun, quirky dialog.
The central character in "Aloha" is Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper), a former Air Force officer who is now a defense contractor working for billionaire Carson Welch (Bill Murray). Welch is one of the many rich businessmen who, in this age of dwindling budgets, the military depends on to help finance its satellites. Welch is a bit of a mystery, but not so Gilcrest. It's not hard to see where he's coming from. Once an idealistic young man fascinated with outer space, he has become cynical and virtually swallowed up by the compromises he has made to enhance his love life, his bank account and his position in the world. Over time, all this has caught up with him and now he finds himself with no moral or romantic compass, his looks and his charm seeming to be all that's getting him through life. While deployed to Afghanistan, he made a couple big mistakes – one that almost ended his life and one that did end his military career. As the film opens, he's headed to Hawaii, his old stomping grounds, to negotiate a deal with the locals that will allow the military to expand one of their bases and to launch new satellites.
What Gilcrest thinks will be a simple mission that will take less than a week and give him a chance to get back in the game is complicated by ghosts from his past and new challenges in his present. When he lands in Honolulu, Gilcrest reunites with an odd former Air Force buddy, Colonel "Fingers" Lacy (Danny McBride) and he's also confronted with old flame Tracy Woodside (Rachel McAdams). She dumped him 13 years prior and married a stable but quiet (practically non-communicative) Air Force pilot named John "Woody" Woodside (John Krasinski). Tracy also has a 12-year-old daughter named Grace (Danielle Rose Russell) who is trying to overcome her tween awkwardness by learning to dance the hula, and a 9-year-old son named Mitchell (Jaeden Lieberher) who is awkwardly obsessed with using his video camera to record everything and also spouting Hawaiian mythology and legends to anyone who will listen. While he's forced to confront his past, Gilcrest's overriding present concern is dealing with the extremely dedicated and overly perky Air Force liaison, Captain Allison Ng (pronounced "Ing"), played by Emma Stone. Being one-quarter Hawaiian (as she keeps telling everyone), meticulous in the performance of her duties, and fascinated with the man in whom she sees greatness while still referring to as "a wreck", she insists on tagging along for a scheduled meeting between Gilcrest and his old acquaintance Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahale. Playing himself, he's President of what he calls "The Hawaiian Nation". Bumpy and his compatriots consider the over century-long American presence in Hawaii as a military occupation. It's going to take all of Gilcrest's negotiating skill and all of Ng's deferential idealism to convince Bumpy to give his blessing to the expansion of the Air Force base. Meanwhile, suspiciously watching all of this from the sidelines is General Dixon (Alec Baldwin), a man who hates Gilcrest and may or may not be involved in some shady dealings with Murray's character. "Aloha" fits the mold of a typical Cameron Crowe film – a great cast with a somewhat disjointed but pleasant story. Through most of the movie, it seems that Crowe couldn't decide if he wanted this movie to be a romantic comedy, a military drama or an ode to Hawaiian history and culture, much like "The Descendants" (2011). As you're watching Crowe's story unfold, you begin to wonder if "Aloha" exists mainly so we can watch the pretty people dance around each other, both literally and figuratively, but the pieces do eventually fit together. The film's last 20 or so minutes become very focused, dramatic, romantic and even joyful. Along the way, the talented cast is a pleasure to watch, the dialog tickles the ear, the scenery provides a beautiful backdrop for the goings-on and there are some very memorable scenes. An ongoing joke about unspoken communication earns a big payoff at the end of the movie and Alec Baldwin's big scene is every bit as funny as in the trailers. In short, this isn't a perfect movie, but it's a nearly perfect Cameron Crowe movie, with as many meanings as that one-word title has in the land of its origin. "B+"
I have no idea what I just watched
jim_flowers30 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I have no idea what I just watched. It was so disjointed and random it made no sense. The story line, well, there was no single story line and the hodgepodge of back stories contributed nothing. Emma Stone, lily white, was supposed to be 1/4 Hawaiian and another 1/4 Asian, what a casting FIASCO. The Hawaiian lure added nothing to this sinking (stinking) ship either.
I can NOT think of a single reason for anyone to watch this movie other than the same reason I watched it, to see if it was as awful as it was portrayed to be, IT WAS! It's kind of like rubbernecking at an accident on the freeway, you shouldn't, but you must!
I can NOT think of a single reason for anyone to watch this movie other than the same reason I watched it, to see if it was as awful as it was portrayed to be, IT WAS! It's kind of like rubbernecking at an accident on the freeway, you shouldn't, but you must!
Give Aloha A Break
theRetiree6 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Full Disclosure: I'll watch anything about Hawaii, including 50 First Dates, Lilo and Stitch, and Blue Crush (but not Hawaii 5-0), and I went into this movie well aware of the IMDb drama, trolling, and hysteria. Emma Stone blah blah blah, No real Asians blah blah blah, even some chat board criticism from some who admitted not having even seen the movie or that devolved into racist and religious abuse--seriously, are there no moderators on this site at all??? So wife and I watched with heightened awareness if not pre-loaded outrage, and found this movie altogether unobjectionable and appealing. Did all the critics miss all the scenes full of Hawaiians playing "himself"?? Did they miss Stone's earnest and respectful (if a bit fawning) approach to pre-colonial people and culture. The music, the dance, the irredentism??? So its not Dances with Wolves, but its no ethnic outrage either. And on its own terms as a complicated rom-com love quadrangle about two very appealing actresses and two studly but flawed men, we found it enjoyable and reasonably believable. I did find the final scene at the dance studio a bit creepy: I guess little girls grow up awfully fast now, but that's going to make for some awkward conversations with Mom and Dad. Good thing Dad comes equipped with subtitles. Go or don't go, but don't be swayed by the hysterical static. I'm buying the DVD to add to my Hawaii collection.
What did I just watch?
dryanmorr10 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this movie based a trailer, so I expected it to be a romance of some sorts.
I have absolutely no idea what was going on, this plot was all over the place, and just flat out awkward. Why in the world would a man be hanging out with his ex girlfriend 13 years with her and her husband and family I still can't get. The beginning of the movie sets it off to be a serious but the blatantly thrown down the drain when the taps are being played and they are talking with complete disrespect and soon everything was just a joke.
Don't watch this disaster, I am still confused, and with all Hawaiian myth non sense.
I have absolutely no idea what was going on, this plot was all over the place, and just flat out awkward. Why in the world would a man be hanging out with his ex girlfriend 13 years with her and her husband and family I still can't get. The beginning of the movie sets it off to be a serious but the blatantly thrown down the drain when the taps are being played and they are talking with complete disrespect and soon everything was just a joke.
Don't watch this disaster, I am still confused, and with all Hawaiian myth non sense.
One of the most underrated films of at least the last 2 decades
mapika22 July 2020
I just can't believe the negative ratings, both, by the media and here on IMDB !
This is one of the most touching movies I've seen in the last 20 years. And I normally really don't like Bradley Cooper at all. For me it's his best movie! And of course all the other actresses and actors are great! Every single one!
This film has so many layers describing life and what it is all about. It's simply everything, funny, awkward, deep, touching, moving... Especially the silent scenes with John Krasinski and Danielle Rose Russell are phenomenal!
I smiled, laughed and cried alternately throughout the whole film... To me it's fun and wisdom in one. Period.
This is one of the most touching movies I've seen in the last 20 years. And I normally really don't like Bradley Cooper at all. For me it's his best movie! And of course all the other actresses and actors are great! Every single one!
This film has so many layers describing life and what it is all about. It's simply everything, funny, awkward, deep, touching, moving... Especially the silent scenes with John Krasinski and Danielle Rose Russell are phenomenal!
I smiled, laughed and cried alternately throughout the whole film... To me it's fun and wisdom in one. Period.
Interesting and feel good!
uppal_twinkle25 April 2020
fascinating overstuffed mess
SnoopyStyle24 December 2015
Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper) has always wanted to be in the space program. His military career is over and he has recovered from a terrible incident in Kabul. He is working for mercurial billionaire Carson Welch (Bill Murray) who is building a private rocket facility in Hawaii. He needs to recruit the locals to bless a gate. The military assigns Air Force pilot Allison Ng (Emma Stone) as his watchdog. Gilcrest reconnects with his former love Tracy Woodside (Rachel McAdams) who has a family with Woody (John Krasinski).
Wow! Cameron Crowe has cobbled together a crazy set of story elements. Emma Stone is part Chinese Hawaiian. Her character is an insane writer's creation. Her acting does no favor to the character. There's a rocket launch and an international peace treaty. The Chinese are hacking and there's an audio weapon. There is a lot of Hawaiian mysticism. I do love Rachel McAdams. She is absolutely enchanting and her part of the movie actually works. That only teases a much better movie somewhere in this convoluted mess.
Wow! Cameron Crowe has cobbled together a crazy set of story elements. Emma Stone is part Chinese Hawaiian. Her character is an insane writer's creation. Her acting does no favor to the character. There's a rocket launch and an international peace treaty. The Chinese are hacking and there's an audio weapon. There is a lot of Hawaiian mysticism. I do love Rachel McAdams. She is absolutely enchanting and her part of the movie actually works. That only teases a much better movie somewhere in this convoluted mess.
Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh make it stop
ellieepic24 December 2015
..."Ughhhhhhh" is a word which would sum up my time watching the movie 'Aloha'. I was extremely intrigued when I saw the synopsis and cast of this movie: Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray, Emma Stone (my personal favourite), and even Michael Chernus who appeared in Orange is the new Black. Obviously I'm no professional but it would seem difficult to make a film containing such great actors so dull. I'll have to admit that I didn't watch the ending, although I can vouch that the beginning and middle of the movie was tragically slow paced and I don't expect the ending was any better. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys the prospect of bawling your eyes out with boredom.
Loved it!
sadira_lotus2 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
There is this indescribable feeling I get after watching most (We Bought a Zoo is the exception) Cameron Crowe movies. It's not like warm and fuzzy, I just walk out of the theater with this slight grin, knowing my life has changed forever. As much as I love Almost Famous, I haven't felt like this since Jerry McGuire.
There are a lot of Crowe-centric scenes, but the music you know, just makes you so happy to hear, and the Hawaiian music just puts you right into the action.
I vow not to write a spoilery review, but if you love the little nuances in human interaction, especially non-verbal communication, this is totally your movie.
And the scene in the dance class? Priceless.
There are a lot of Crowe-centric scenes, but the music you know, just makes you so happy to hear, and the Hawaiian music just puts you right into the action.
I vow not to write a spoilery review, but if you love the little nuances in human interaction, especially non-verbal communication, this is totally your movie.
And the scene in the dance class? Priceless.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
