Lonely Planet (2024) is an excruciatingly dull, miscast, and tone-deaf attempt at a romantic drama that deserves its spot among Netflix's most forgettable releases of the year. Rating it a 1/10 almost feels too generous for this plodding mess of clichés, flat characters, and utterly wasted talent.
First off, the film's premise is stale before it even begins. Katherine, played by Laura Dern, is a morose novelist with writer's block and a permanent frown and a chip on her shoulder bigger than the Sahara, where parts of this movie were sadly filmed. Every moment with Dern on-screen feels like an exercise in suffering - not because her character is particularly well-written, but because her endless brooding, down-turned mouth, and condescending attitude toward everyone she meets are unbearable. It's as if the filmmakers specifically sought to cast someone who could radiate a constant, unwarranted superiority complex, and Dern took to the role like a duck to water.
Then there's Liam Hemsworth as Owen, who takes "snowflake" to new cinematic lows. His character is so fragile and easily offended that watching him interact with the world is cringe-worthy. Every minor inconvenience or offhand comment sends him into a sulky retreat. The film tries to present Owen as a sensitive soul, but instead, he comes across as a sad sod - emotionally stunted and endlessly walking out of rooms because someone hurt his feelings. When he storms off after being called a "kid" during an intimate moment with Katherine, the audience is left wondering why they should care about someone who reacts to every situation with the maturity of a petulant child.
The film's cultural ignorance is another mark against it. Set in Morocco, Lonely Planet stumbles into a laughable and cringeworthy misunderstanding of local customs. At one point, Katherine, already in a sour mood, becomes irrationally upset when a local refers to her as "Madam." It's clear she thinks the term is an insult to her age, despite the fact that in French-speaking Morocco, "Madam" is simply a polite form of address for any woman, regardless of age. This basic cultural ignorance might have been excusable if it were used to develop the characters, but instead, it's just one more sign of the film's shallow approach to its setting and its people. The filmmakers evidently think their American characters are the only ones worth investing in, leaving the Moroccan locals as mere set dressing for the existential crises of these insufferable tourists.
If there was any hope of a character worth rooting for, it might have been Lily, Owen's girlfriend, played by the lovely and charismatic Diana Silvers. But alas, Lily is little more than a footnote in this disaster. Despite her obvious potential, she's given hardly any screen time and even less character development. We're told she's a rising star dealing with the pressures of fame, but all we see is her being dismissed by everyone around her, including the writers who clearly had no interest in exploring her story. Silvers' natural charm is utterly wasted, as her role could have added some much-needed life to this dreary film. Instead, Lily remains a blank canvas, serving only as a plot device to push Owen and Katherine together.
As for the rest of the cast? They are insignificant, almost comically so. Ugo, Rafih, and the rest of the retreat's attendees exist only as flimsy caricatures - throwaway characters who are little more than speed bumps on the road to Owen and Katherine's romance. Their lack of depth and personality is glaring, especially given the film's insistence on dragging out its already paper-thin plot to an agonizing two hours.
The Moroccan landscape, while beautiful, is sadly squandered. The cinematography, which could have been one of the film's few redeeming qualities, only occasionally shines. At best, it provides a brief escape from the interminable emotional wallowing of its characters. But even the lush scenery can't save a film this poorly executed.
In the end, Lonely Planet fails on every front. It's a film that mistakes sulking for depth, turns cultural ignorance into plot points, and squanders any potential it might have had with its cast. Laura Dern's performance is lifeless, Liam Hemsworth's character is beyond irritating, and Diana Silvers is criminally underutilized. This was an opportunity to craft a nuanced romance set against an exotic backdrop, but instead, we're left with a dreary, frustrating slog that's neither romantic nor emotionally engaging. Avoid it at all costs.
First off, the film's premise is stale before it even begins. Katherine, played by Laura Dern, is a morose novelist with writer's block and a permanent frown and a chip on her shoulder bigger than the Sahara, where parts of this movie were sadly filmed. Every moment with Dern on-screen feels like an exercise in suffering - not because her character is particularly well-written, but because her endless brooding, down-turned mouth, and condescending attitude toward everyone she meets are unbearable. It's as if the filmmakers specifically sought to cast someone who could radiate a constant, unwarranted superiority complex, and Dern took to the role like a duck to water.
Then there's Liam Hemsworth as Owen, who takes "snowflake" to new cinematic lows. His character is so fragile and easily offended that watching him interact with the world is cringe-worthy. Every minor inconvenience or offhand comment sends him into a sulky retreat. The film tries to present Owen as a sensitive soul, but instead, he comes across as a sad sod - emotionally stunted and endlessly walking out of rooms because someone hurt his feelings. When he storms off after being called a "kid" during an intimate moment with Katherine, the audience is left wondering why they should care about someone who reacts to every situation with the maturity of a petulant child.
The film's cultural ignorance is another mark against it. Set in Morocco, Lonely Planet stumbles into a laughable and cringeworthy misunderstanding of local customs. At one point, Katherine, already in a sour mood, becomes irrationally upset when a local refers to her as "Madam." It's clear she thinks the term is an insult to her age, despite the fact that in French-speaking Morocco, "Madam" is simply a polite form of address for any woman, regardless of age. This basic cultural ignorance might have been excusable if it were used to develop the characters, but instead, it's just one more sign of the film's shallow approach to its setting and its people. The filmmakers evidently think their American characters are the only ones worth investing in, leaving the Moroccan locals as mere set dressing for the existential crises of these insufferable tourists.
If there was any hope of a character worth rooting for, it might have been Lily, Owen's girlfriend, played by the lovely and charismatic Diana Silvers. But alas, Lily is little more than a footnote in this disaster. Despite her obvious potential, she's given hardly any screen time and even less character development. We're told she's a rising star dealing with the pressures of fame, but all we see is her being dismissed by everyone around her, including the writers who clearly had no interest in exploring her story. Silvers' natural charm is utterly wasted, as her role could have added some much-needed life to this dreary film. Instead, Lily remains a blank canvas, serving only as a plot device to push Owen and Katherine together.
As for the rest of the cast? They are insignificant, almost comically so. Ugo, Rafih, and the rest of the retreat's attendees exist only as flimsy caricatures - throwaway characters who are little more than speed bumps on the road to Owen and Katherine's romance. Their lack of depth and personality is glaring, especially given the film's insistence on dragging out its already paper-thin plot to an agonizing two hours.
The Moroccan landscape, while beautiful, is sadly squandered. The cinematography, which could have been one of the film's few redeeming qualities, only occasionally shines. At best, it provides a brief escape from the interminable emotional wallowing of its characters. But even the lush scenery can't save a film this poorly executed.
In the end, Lonely Planet fails on every front. It's a film that mistakes sulking for depth, turns cultural ignorance into plot points, and squanders any potential it might have had with its cast. Laura Dern's performance is lifeless, Liam Hemsworth's character is beyond irritating, and Diana Silvers is criminally underutilized. This was an opportunity to craft a nuanced romance set against an exotic backdrop, but instead, we're left with a dreary, frustrating slog that's neither romantic nor emotionally engaging. Avoid it at all costs.