Movie Review: THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME
It's been said, 'There's nothing constant, except change.' Well, the nameless philosopher who coined that phrase had evidently not watched a Wes Anderson film. Few filmmakers create movies that are quite as singularly identifiable. The Phoenician Scheme hits theaters this week. Will this comedy slide neatly into the comfy pantheon of Wes Anderson goodness? Or will this one hit a rare sour note? Read on. The Phoenician Scheme
The Phoenician Scheme follows Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benicio Del Toro). This businessman isn't just wealthy, he's eccentric. After surviving his latest plane crash, he realizes he must plan for the future. He needs an heir. However, his eldest daughter (Mia Threapleton) has given up all her worldly possessions to become a nun. As father and daughter begin to feel each other out, they embark on a new enterprise. A scheme. A Phoenician Scheme. Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, and Scarlet Johansson co-star in the movie. Wes Anderson directs The Phoenician Scheme from his own script.
Friends, this is a hard movie to talk about. This is largely for one reason: I enjoyed the ever-loving heck out of myself watching this one. Those who have been here since 2023 will also remember I was quite the advocate for the last Anderson film, Asteroid City . I've gained a tremendous amount of enjoyment basking in Wes Anderson's wacky and slightly unhinged self.
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The Phoenician Scheme , much like Asteroid City , is a masterclass in the Wes Anderson aesthetic. This, of course, takes in the candy-colored, mid-twentieth-century set design. Few people make the 1950s and 1960s look quite as idyllic as he does. Nothing looks real, but it's a beautiful artificiality and an absolute joy to watch.
The beautiful look of the film blends seamlessly with colorful performances by Anderson's faithful troop of regular actors. Each and every one of these cast members is fully bought into Anderson's creative vision. This comes through most vividly through the manic and highly stylized line deliveries. Benicio Del Toro, in particular, reaches a new level in this performance. As I watched the movie, I found myself marveling at the intense work that must have been going on to create this very specific tone. Anderson's carefully crafted work with the actors results in a beautiful partnership between actor and filmmaker.
This whole cast is, of course, delightful. However, this critic would be shirking her responsibilities by not calling out Michael Cera as Bjorn, an entomology tutor with an interesting tale to tell. The actor sinks his teeth into the layered role and, to be perfectly honest, steals scenes like a bandit. He's single-handedly responsible for a number of the film's comedic moments, and here's to seeing more of this wackiness from the still young actor.
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Unfortunately, though, Anderson's script struggles to carry the film through a number of twists and turns. As a result, it ends up dragging deep into the second act. This is felt strongly just in time for Scarlett Johansson to enter the film as Cousin Hilda. The resulting issues with pacing dull the humor's impact, and in the grand scheme of things, The Phoenician Scheme struggles to stick the landing and ends up feeling shallow. As the kids say, 'Meh.'
When all is said and done, it's hard to pin down my thoughts on The Phoenician Scheme . I enjoyed every moment of this film immensely. Friends, few works have understood my sense of humor like Anderson's most recent movies.
As a result, I found myself frustrated with the script's second act struggles. It ends up feeling like quite a lot of fun, but little else. The Phoenician Scheme brings Wes Anderson's standard stylistic flair, but the substance is hard to find. This is certainly a must-see for Anderson completists, but it's difficult to see others who might connect with this one.
The Phoenician Scheme is now playing in theaters around the country.
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