Movie Review: The Grand Budapest Hotel..grand for perhaps a precious few

Some movies are perhaps made for too specific an audience. They are not for all and sundry and the majority perhaps wouldn’t know what is grand about them. I suspect The Grand Budapest Hotel might be one of those and I count myself in the majority for this one. That’s probably the only explanation as to why what seemed to me a perfectly ordinary movie, with a positively stellar starcast that have performed itsy bitsy roles given their abilities, is receiving such rave reviews from critics and review aggregators alike

The Grand Budapest Hotel exudes old worldliness from the opening credits itself. The entire movie is presented in a unique 4:3 format – a novel expression of the visual capabilities of the times the movie is set in. The canvas is filled nicely – almost as if the set pieces had been borrowed from older movies to make sure they don’t jar. Add to it the rather sophisticated voice over narration with high quality humor and you settle in for what would visually be an ornately designed and presented PG Wodehouse novel. Alas, what you get is far from it – especially from a ‘laughs’ perspective

Despite Ralph Fiennes leading the honors, completely in his element as the protagonist quirky concierge of the grand old establishment, the remaining characters are just dull, underdeveloped and lifeless – and far too many at that. Eminent names like Adrien Brody, Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law and am missing some 10 others even as I mention these, are completely wasted in one dimensional ordinary characters. This is not as bad since most of the attention stays firmly focused on Fiennes and he delivers all the way. However, the plot development is banal, the jokes at times too asinine – some even reminding me of movies as bad as Housefull so you can get some idea. Add to that, despite clocking just 99 minutes, don’t be surprised if you find yourself nodding off every now and then given the pacing of the movie

There are some genuinely smart lines and a poignant underlayer if one wants to reflect and dig deeper. However, the entire tone and presentation of the movie was as if it just wanted me to have a good time so I don’t think it succeeds on that note either

Perhaps I am also being too harsh here. Maybe this is a movie of an era gone by – a generation I may never completely understand or appreciate. If you are an old worldly romantic, I’d say you still give it a shot and see if this movie indeed did justice. All others looking for something exciting, more in touch with today’s reality and pace – I won’t recommend a booking at The Grand Budapest Hotel. Of course, with Kick being the other option, its not a lot of choice either. Perhaps, you’d just be best waiting till next week