Susanna, the Human MacGuffin

Rating: 4/10 (24 May 2009)

A MacGuffin is an object that the characters value and that drives the plot, but the specific nature of the object is not important. In some movies, the nature of the MacGuffin is never explained to the audience. In thrillers, that can work. In human-relationship dramas, not so much.
Writers Shilliday and Witliff create Susanna (Ormond) as a human MacGuffin. She is beautiful; end of story. No back story, no motivations, no personality, nothing.
The fact that a cardboard cutout could alter the courses of their lives made me lose interest in the characters of the three brothers, and when Susanna was finally removed from the story line, I was still wondering whether the audience was supposed to care.
20% visual delight; 80% irritating script.