Many of us may immediately envision the stunning blue-green crystalline waves, the charming communities moored on the shoreline, and the wide variety of seafood dishes that are readily accessible for dining within walking distance when we think of vacationing in the Mediterranean. Maybe that's part of the reason why famous rock musician John Allman (Harry Connick Jr.) decided to take a break from the industry's stresses and unwind on the picturesque island of Cyprus. Sadly, he finds himself facing a more significant issue when the cliffside home he bought turns out to be a place for suicide seekers. In his quest to learn more from the locals about how to put an end to the practice, he runs into Melina (Ali Fumiko Whitney), an aspiring singer, and her mother Sia (Agni Scott), a successful island doctor who was once in a relationship with John many years ago and is now trying her luck with love again.
Writer-director Stelana Kliris's follow-up to her 2014 feature debut, "Committed," adheres to the formulaic elements of a romantic comedy. In "Find Me Falling," she treats the spectator to a few shocks rather than sticking to the formula of a protracted romantic reunion between two attractive leads. The movie is called "Find Me Falling," after all, and the subplot about a suicide that occurs right outside John's door feels oddly facile, which detracts from the escape-themed romantic comedy from the outset. This story point is played for laughs in several instances, such as when an irate John tells a man who is walking towards the edge, "This is not a good day to die!" The man retreats in embarrassment as John and Sia carry on their moving talk. While there are other, far more sympathetic moments, such as when John pulls a fearful young woman from the brink and assures her that he will help, this is a tonal shock from nights spent at a taverna packed with music, getting sunburned on the beach, or rekindling a long-lost romantic flame.
Harry Connick Jr. appears a bit too polished for his part as a weary rock star hoping to escape it all, but he acts suitably exhausted from all the small-town miscreants he encounters when he gets there. He is maybe the most humble rock star ever portrayed in a movie, and he looks embarrassed that people recognize him. Agni Scott portrays Sia as a strong lady who persevered in her job despite being a single mother. She carries herself with a chic sense of nonchalance throughout the movie. Although their characters openly lust for one another, there doesn't seem to be as much physical chemistry between them, and their passionate moments don't seem as intense as some of their disagreements. It's a performance that's almost too calm and distant.
But Kliris's screenplay does not stop at the two romantic leads in the movie. She develops the relationships of Sia with her daughter Melina, her worried sister Koula (Lea Maleni), who is tired of this handsome stranger who has returned to Cyprus for more than just a vacation, and the matriarch of the family, Marikou (Aggeliki Filippidou), who is always available to listen, impart advice, and diffuse conflicts among family members. Alongside the romance, a warm family dynamic emerges, firmly establishing the story in the setting and culture rather than merely employing it as a backdrop for the plot. Even Tony Demetriou's Captain Manoli is essential in showing John around the town and bringing him to the taverna where John meets Sia for the first time in a long time. Captain Manoli has his own problems, which John resolves by helping him and his family.
"Find Me Falling" eventually lands on rough terrain. It sounds like the abrupt intrusion of dramatic pauses and lackluster pop music and lyrics (John's smash hit is named "Girl on the Beach," and the song does not sound better than the title) has blown the frothy bubbles of this pleasant romantic comedy. It's a strange decision that might alter some viewers' expectations of a glitzy romantic getaway—like adding lime to a Greek dish that calls for lemon. It alters the film's profile and leaves an aftertaste that makes an otherwise good meal seem a little strange.
0 Comments