Lack-Luster Land

Rating: 1/10 (5 February 2017)

It's hard to understand how this lifeless musical has done so well at the box office, and swept up so many awards and nominations. The film goes downhill fast after an impressive opening song-and-dance routine on a gridlocked Interstate overpass. As soon as the traffic starts rolling again, this love story between a jazz pianist and wannabe actress gets underway with a prescient gesture. Thanks to interruptions for some undistinguished musical numbers, it takes them almost an hour and several coincidental meetings before they're sufficiently motivated to kick-start their tepid romance. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much glue holding them together, and they soon have an unconvincing argument about chasing their respective dreams. This leads to a brief break-up, followed by a half-hearted reconciliation.
Later it's revealed they parted - presumably because they weren't all that into each other in the first place - but the script doesn't bother to show how this separation occurred. As the narrative approaches its conclusion, LA's infamous traffic congestion facilitates yet another meeting and a final chance to ignite some drama. The biggest mystery is why so many critics and viewers admire this drab love affair between two people who seem unable to communicate either affection or passion.