Film Review: Diablo Cody Loses Tone in Awful ‘Paradise’

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Average: 5 (1 vote)

CHICAGO – Diablo Cody’s directorial debut, “Paradise,” now available everywhere On Demand and released this Friday in some markets theatrically, is an unmitigated disaster. It’s the most tonally inconsistent film of 2013, a flick that fluctuates wildly from broad satire to manipulative drama to something altogether indescribably bad. Julianne Hough sleepwalks through Cody’s worst effort to date as a writer and only supporting turns by the always-game Russell Brand and never-bad Octavia Spencer save the film from being a strong candidate for the worst of the year. It still comes close.

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 1.0/5.0
Rating: 1.0/5.0

Lamb (Hough) survived such a horrible plane crash that most of the skin burned off her body, leaving her questioning the God-is-always-there faith instilled in her by her ultra-religious parents (Holly Hunter & Nick Offerman). In the opening scenes, Lamb has been asked to speak at her family church about how her recovery has helped her get closer to God and she uses the opportunity to deny his existence instead. It’s mere minutes into a Cody script and our lead is saying “There is no God. It’s just too easy. As Lamb politely tirades against her taught creator, the churchgoers lose their minds, shouting “Socialist!” and “Democrat!” It’s the kind of broad satire that feels beneath Cody as a writer. And it won’t be the last time.

StarRead Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Paradise” in our reviews section.

After her church outburst, Lamb decides to travel to what she considers the moral antithesis of her Montana upbringing – Las Vegas. After a horrendously written scene in a cab and a few bits of monotonous narration from the simply unengaged Hough, Lamb ends up at a casino bar that features “Bartainers” or bartenders who also sing. While a tone-deaf woman barely gyrates, Lamb meets the kindly William (Russell Brand), forges a friendship with singer Loray (Octavia Spencer), “drinks” her first shot of Peach Schnapps, and tries to get into the night life of Vegas.

StarContinue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Paradise” review.

“Paradise” stars Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Octavia Spencer, Nick Offerman, Holly Hunter, and Kathleen Rose Perkins. It was written and directed by Diablo Cody. It is now On Demand and playing in limited theatrical release.

Paradise
Paradise
Photo credit: Image Entertainment

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