After a failed comeback album, rock star John Allman escapes to a dreamy Mediterranean island, only to discover that his new cliffside home has an unfortunate notoriety that attracts unwanted visitors and an old flame.
Chuck says:
John Allman is in the midst of a massive pity party. The aging rock star’s latest album – a comeback project, mind you- has landed with a resounding thud. Critics are not impressed, the public ain’t buying it, and he’s not taking his agents calls. He’s crept off to Cyprus to lick his wounds and drown his troubles in cheap wine. As my wife would say, “He needs to call the Wahmbulance! Dial 9-Wah-Wah.”
Yeah, it’s a bit hard to have any pity for the guy, but thanks to a charming, self-effacing performance from Harry Connick Jr., this prima donna turns out not to be half bad, which helps save Stelana Kliris’ “Find Me Falling,” a rom com that is pedestrian in construction but at times inspired in its execution. Taking a page from the Adam Sandler playbook, the film’s Mediterranean setting not only give the cast a magical place to toil at the arduous work of filmmaking but also provides the proper romantic setting for this a-bit-better-than-Hallmark production.
One would think moving to such a gorgeous locale would be a joyful, exciting event. Yet, Allman runs into nothing but bad luck, finding out far too late that the cliff upon which his modest home sits is a popular site for suicides. He finds this out the hard way when, soon after arriving he sees a troubled young man take his own life. The local police chief, Manoli (Tony Demetriou) fills Allman in on this as well as many of the other local eccentrics and customs. He introduces him to among others, Sia (Agni Scott), a surgeon who happens to be his old flame.
Then there’s the case of Melina (Ali Fumiko Whitney), a singer who bears a strong resemblance to Sia and…well, if you’ve seen only three movies in your lifetime you can predict early on just how these three are connected. Yes, these circumstances are obvious and a bit forced, but Kliris and her cast employ a breezy, light-hearted approach that makes it all go down easily.
Much like the recent “Fly Me to the Moon,” Kliris’ film attempts to be all things to all viewers, occasionally funny and at times serious, sitting atop a romantic foundation bolstered by the theme of redemption. On paper, this seems like a plate-spinner’s nightmare, but when all elements are executed sincerely, a bit of magic occurs. The laughs are well-earned but more importantly, so are the poignant moments, the director careful never to pour the sentiment on too thick.
The three principals are adept at delivering both witty rejoinders as well as moments of quiet sincerity. You end up liking each in the trio which goes a long way in by-the-numbers productions such as this. However, the secret weapon proves to be Athina Roditou as Anna, Sia’s mother who not only provides ample comic relief, but dispenses with much needed wisdom with a sense of sincerity that gives potentially saccharine moments with subtle emotional heft.
While “Falling” is far from a classic, like “Moon” as well as the other recent Netflix production “A Family Affair,” it fulfills a need, providing a pleasant enough diversion amidst the myriads of dross cluttering the airwaves. More times than not, it works, a pleasant enough 90-minute time-filler that will provide a chuckle or two and maybe a couple “aww” moments. Sometimes, that’s all you need.
3 Stars
