Astrangers on an Island

Ticket to Paradise feels like something of a throwback. Its been a while since a studio got two A-listers together for a big budget, cinema release rom com. Anyone hankering for a dose of classic movie star romance is likely to leave happy.

The set up for the film could be a rom com plot on its own, college graduate goes to Bali for a break before starting work and meets a guy who she decides to marry and live a simple life with instead of becoming a hotshot lawyer. Thats all taken care of in the first few minutes and the movie focuses on her estranged parents, played by Julie Roberts and George Clooney, who put their differences aside to try and sabotage the wedding.

The backdrop is stunning (the characters will point this out every five minutes in case you hadn't noticed) and gives the movie a luxurious feel, although I suspect the representation of Balinese culture and traditions are somewhat inaccurate. The leads are as good as you would expect, Roberts is as charming as ever and Clooney brings his usual charisma, elevating what are basically a couple of one note characters. Kaitlyn Dever and Maxime Bouttier fill out the cast nicely as the wedded couple to be but "wild" best friend Billie Lourd serves no purpose beyond the opening five minutes.

Plot wise everything falls into place exactly as you would expect but then that's precisely the point. Ticket to Paradise isn't here to break new ground, its here to be slipped into like a comfortable pair of slippers and if beautiful people leading beautiful lives in beautiful locations is your brand of escapism, then this is a trip you want to take.

7 reunited couples out of 10 acrimonious divorces.

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