Rating: Unrated and R
Starring:
Steve Zahn as Cliff
Timothy Olyphant as Nick
Milla Jovovich as Cydney
Kiele Sanchez as Gina
Marley Shelton as Cleo
Chris Hemsworth as Kale
Directed by David Twohy
Special Features:
Includes Theatrical And Unrated Version
Shocking Original Scripted Ending
Blu-ray Live Enabled
Other Info:
Widescreen (1.85:1)
DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround Sound
Spanish and French Language
Spanish and French Subtitles
Running Time: 108 Minutes
The Details:
The following is the official description of the film:
“Milla Jovovich, Steve Zahn, Timothy Olyphant and Kiele Sanchez star in this gripping suspense-thriller about an island vacation that turns deadly. Honeymooners Cliff (Zahn) and Cydney (Jovovich) are hiking a jungle trail to a remote Hawaiian beach when they hear that police have uncovered a grisly murder scene and the suspected killers are somewhere nearby. Unsure whether to stay or flee, the pair joins two other couples and things start to go horribly wrong. Far from civilization, a brutal battle for survival begins where danger lurks along every twist of the path and no one is who they seem.”
“A Perfect Getaway (Unrated Director’s Cut)” is unrated. The theatrical version is rated R for graphic violence, language including sexual references and some drug use.
Mini-Review:
I think this is another case where the commercials, ads, and trailers spoiled the movie. The basic plot is that three couples are on a hike in a remote portion of Hawaii. Somewhere among them, a couple of murderers are on the loose. If you saw the ads then you know there’s a surprise twist. If you had to guess which of the couples were the murderers, which one would you guess? Well, you’re probably right. So having already guessed who the murderers were before even starting the movie, I spent most of the film watching for the little clues here and there that eventually confirmed my suspicions. In some respects you admire the writers for the little hints they put in the story that will surprise those not expecting the twist. But then you’re also disappointed that you know how the movie will turn out and you spend about an hour and a half waiting for the plot to catch up to you. So this is very much a mixed viewing experience. The more you go into it cold, the better off you are.
The film has a strong cast. Steve Zahn as Cliff and Milla Jovovich as Cydney make an interesting couple. They’re the eyes and ears of the audience and when the big twist hits, they rather naturally shift gears. The same goes for Timothy Olyphant as Nick and Kiele Sanchez as Gina. They’re all good looking and have the right mix of crazy and toughness. That makes you eagerly anticipate the big final confrontation even though you’ve known it has been coming the entire time.
I’m a fan of David Twohy from “Pitch Black” and was looking forward to what he’d come up with here. He handles the action and suspense well. He also makes Kauai look incredible. My wife and I actually went on our honeymoon there and took a raft tour in the area all this takes place, so it was kind of funny to see again on the screen, but in a Hollywood thriller.
If you’re a fan of Zahn or Jovovich or if you’re just looking for a decent thriller, then “A Perfect Getaway” will fit the bill. You’ll definitely enjoy it more the less you know about it going in.
Unfortunately, they really skimped on the bonus features. There’s only one, and it’s an alternate ending. The only difference from the theatrical version is that this one paints the killer in a less positive light. It actually makes more sense as an ending considering everything that took place. If you’re looking for ‘making of’ featurettes or any other standard offerings, you’re out of luck.
