Moving McAllister

Frustrating comedy has a reliable premise and a cast who are ready to play (especially an ever-beatific Kunis), but its screenplay is a major let-down, having no sense of urgency or an ability to find a rhythm to make its farcical gags escalate, rather than the shuddering move from episode to episode which kills any energy – note the way the film appears to wrap up, before abruptly switching to Drago’s Thunderdome! The resemblance between Gourley and Hess actually made me think Hess was playing the lead, which seemed like a better idea once Hess actually entered the film as probably the most electric bit of comic energy; as noted by others, Gourley seems to have trouble finding his feet, let alone the requisite madcap chemistry with Kunis. Odd note – convolutions in the screenplay at least seem to indicate that Hauer and Kunis would have been a tough sell as father and daughter!