FilmSnobReviews

Title: Paradise Hills
MPAA Rating: Not Yet Rated
Director: Alice Waddington
Starring: Eiza González, Milla Jovovich, Emma Roberts
Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins

What It Is: Uma (Roberts) awakens in a windowless room uncertain and where she is and why she’s there. The man that has asked to marry her has placed her there to make her a more compliant bride. It is here she meets other girls stuck on this island for various reasons. Pop star Amarna (González) needs to be less of a headline. Chloe (Danielle Macdonald) is told she needs to lose a bit of weight. Lastly, Yu (Awkwafina) needs to be more of a lady. But this facility, run by The Duchess (Jovovich) is a bit more sinister then it lets one.

What We Think: This one is…a bit of a snoozefest. Sadly. Emma Roberts does what she can but Milla Jovovich is hamming it up a bit too much. Everyone else is fine the script here though is just a bit too boring for me. Aesthetically the costuming and settings look amazing. That is the strength of this…the visuals. Looking at this narratively everything that happens is a bit on the predictable side. That’s a disappointment.

Our Grade: C-, This is one of those times were just looking pretty isn’t enough for a film. Waddington just doesn’t know where she wants to take this ship. Too often the predictability hurts and makes for some terrible groanworthy moments. There are a couple of places here that the script goes and it for sure makes it a difficult film to recommend. Instead, I’ll give it a slight recommendation and say that those looking for something that is more style than substance If that sounds good to you than by all means look forward to this one. I, however, will not be rewatching this anytime soon.