The Tourist – movie review

Angelina Jolie seems to be almost everyone’s favorite actress, and Johnny Depp seems to be almost everyone’s favorite actor. I don’t know why they’ve never been in a movie together before, but I knew that The Tourist was going to be epic just because of those two being the leads. It was even better than I could have hoped.

The Tourist has the feel of classic romantic movies and combines it with a spy action movie about mistaken identity. There are so many surprising twists and turns throughout the movie that it keeps you on your toes, and Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp just have a great on screen chemistry. You never know what to expect in this movie, and right when you think you have everything figured out, they go and change everything on you again. My jaw literally dropped at points in the movie.

My favorite scene in The Tourist is when Shaw, a gangster that Alexander Pierce has stolen from, sends his guys after Frank, who everyone thinks is Alexander Pierce thanks to Elise, and Frank has to escape through a bathroom window in his pajamas. He then runs from rooftop to rooftop, barefoot, tiles slipping out from under him, with murderous goons on his tail. I thought it was pretty bad ass, and it effectively established that Frank was a fighter as well as a lover.

The premise of much of The Tourist seemed a little hard to swallow. There was a whole international sting operation to get Alexander Pierce over…back taxes? At one point, it was noted that the sting operation cost more than what Pierce owed and the investigation was supposed to be dropped, but then a lead came through that the police officer decided to follow. However, once Shaw became involved, you were almost glad the police were there, if only for Frank’s potential safety. However, this is just a minor annoyance and doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of the movie.

Angelina Jolie was perfect as Elise, the woman in love with Alexander Pierce that the police have under surveillance. She sits down next to Frank on a train and makes everyone believe that he is her missing love. However, she is difficult to hate as she honestly does feel bad for getting Frank tied up into the situation, and risks her life to try to save him. Elise is basically a good person willing to do stupid things for love, but she is incredibly crafty and it serves her well. She has a few secrets that add to the movie’s excitement.

Johnny Depp was excellent in the role of Frank. Frank is seemingly nothing more than a shy tourist who loves reading spy novels and soon finds himself in one. He almost instantly falls in love with Elise and never gets angry with her for getting him dragged into the dangerous situation that he’s in. Much like Elise, he’s willing to do stupid things for love, but also like Elise, he has a few interesting secrets up his sleeve.

Overall, The Tourist is a fun, romantic, action packed movie that is incredibly fun to watch. Of the high expectations a movie starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp would have, this one meets them. This is a must watch for Jolie and Depp fans alike.