Quirky comedy that outlives its welcome

Rating: 5/10 (3 May 2017)

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL is another quirky comedy from director Wes Anderson, a man who can seemingly make no other type of movie. I watched and enjoyed the first half an hour of this film, finding it fresh and inventive; however, the magic began to wear off after this point, and by the end I found it more than a little tiresome. I have a feeling that the director's style would best be suited to short films, not overlong efforts like this.
The problem with the film is that it has no meaning, no depth. What you see up on the screen is everything you'll get. The plot is simplistic, and devoid of much interest; Anderson keeps you watching only by including endless random cameos from all of his celebrity friends and actors. I've never been a fan of Ralph Fiennes and he can't shake off his coldness here, although the young cast members fare better. Some of the stars, like Willem Dafoe and Jeff Goldblum, are great but get too little screen time. The movie raises a few smiles and has some nicely dark moments, but I was left wanting more from it and I found the whole experience oddly hollow.