Swing Away is a movie that has no intention of reinventing cinema or storytelling, sure, but what it does it does beautifully. I mean you had me at Shannon Elizabeth on a Greek island, but I love so many things about this movie. A fantastic cast, and cast of characters, a well told tale, enough quirkiness without losing essential humanity or making a parody of the "simple" Greek villagers...
But perhaps most of all I love that the hero's journey is shared quite equally between multiple characters. Perhaps the real hero in the end is Renos Haralambidis' Panayiotis, the lawyer reduced to managing a failed golf course, unloved by the town he lives in and almost entirely alone at the beginning of the film. Haralambidis gives his character such weary pathos and lost hope that I find it impossible not to cheer him on as he regains his sense of dignity.
And then of course there is the rare chance to see Shannon Elizabeth shine for a full hour and a half. She's in most every scene here. Hollywood so often lets her talent go to waste and this is a great reminder of what we all miss out on. She has the potential to be such a classic movie star, if only producers would let her get past being 'That Hot Chick from American Pie'.
Swing Away is a movie I will keep coming back to when I need a shot of hope. And if you're looking for romance, you'll have to wait patiently but it will be worth it. How many films can make that claim?
