Thursday, October 29, 2015

Our Brand is Crisis Review - 2 Stars

Sandra Bullock turns in another winning performance as a burnt out political operative talked into one more impossible assignment:  turn around the long shot campaign of a former Bolivian President who seeks reelection.  In usual comic manner, Bullock arrives jet lagged and in need of oxygen because of the altitude.  Her campaign wobbles and mistakes are made.  She discovers she’s competing with longtime nemesis Billy Bob Thornton.  The screen crackles every time Bullock and Billy Bob square off.  Other scenes inserted for fun feel forced and unfunny.  “Our Brand in Crisis” is based on the 2002 Bolivian election in which candidates turned to U.S. style marketing, research, and negative ads.  Bullock revels in her strong character, but “Our Brand in Crisis” feels less groundbreaking and more like a by the numbers comedy.  A turn at the end adds a nice twist, just a little too late.  Does it deliver what it promises?  Political comedy with implications for the U.S.  Is it entertaining?  Hit and miss.  Is it worth the price of admission?  Mixed review.