bojojoti-971-130131

The movie had an intriguing concept: a main character savvy enough to realize traditional Genie in a Bottle stories always go awry. She's determined not to fall prey. However, the story goes off on tangents, plods in places, and is terribly disjointed. The bigoted neighbors were clumsily inserted and had no place in the film, but I suppose that gave needed virtue points. Summary: Idris Elba is always enjoyable and the movie was visually appealing, but it's not worth a second viewing. Perhaps not a first viewing if one's standards are high (mine are not and I was still disappointed). A warning to Gentle Viewers: the movie contains nudity.

The writing is uneven, the cinematography is odd (close-ups of wine glasses and barbells; camera not in line with the actor's eyes so it looks like he's looking elsewhere), and there are numerous montages that last way too long of actions to music without dialogue. And so much doesn't make sense! Don't bother rewinding, thinking you missed something; any background, relevant part, or connecting scenes aren't there. For example, Elle is missing, and the brothers leave to find her. The next scene, it's the next day, and she's in the house, like she never left, asking for a ride to the airport, and Wesley, who was out looking for her, opens the front door dressed in a sharp red suit (not what he left dressed in). If what I wrote doesn't make sense, understand that's how I felt most of the movie. I enjoyed family interactions and some of the actors, and those are the only redeeming factors of this movie.