entertaining enough film with positive message

Rating: 7/10 (13 July 2005)

SPOILERS Most people in Western civilisation have spent at least part of their life waiting at airports. Weather dependent, socially dependent and reliant of countless other variables, air transport is one long story of delays and cancellations. Based upon the story of a man living at Charles De Gaulle airport in France, 2004's "The Terminal" takes great pleasure in trapping a foreign accent voiced Tom Hanks in JFK Airport for a long period of time. Often entertaining and constantly reminding us of how life can be, this film is a pleasant experience with a positive view of life throughout.
Viktor Navorski (Hanks) is visiting New York for the first time. We say he is visiting, however after his home country is engulfed in civil war, his passport and right of entry is withdrawn. Now, fallen through a loophole, Navorski finds himself living in the International Lounge at JFK Airport, a citizen of nowhere.
Right from the start, "The Terminal" gets into the point at hand and introduces us to Navorski. Well played by Hanks, Navorski is a kind hearted foreigner with a mission to achieve. Unfortunately though, he is stuck in the airport, mainly due to the magnificently malevolent Frank Dixon (played with ease by Stanley Tucci). As Navorski settles into his new home, we are gradually introduced to a number of individual characters who are easy to watch and who grow on us as the film continues. Characters like Diego Luna's Enrique Cruz or Kumar Pallana's Gupta Rajan. All well acted and delivered, these characters are superbly written for the screen and thoroughly enjoyable tow watch.
There's little wrong with "The Terminal" actually. Decently acted, written, superbly directed, and with a good soundtrack, it fills all the necessary criteria to be a great film. Unfortunately though, it just never really makes it into the memorable films category. Perhaps the one main reason for this is that it's just too 'nice'. It's fun, it's entertaining, it's incredibly positive about everything it does, but it never feels gritty and never feels like it has much depth. It's an incredibly superficial film which will make the audience smile, but which will never really challenge us. If this is what the audience is in the mood for, then the film is worth watching, but if you want anything even slightly deep, then your better off elsewhere.
Together for the third time ("Saving Private Ryan" and "Catch Me If You Can"), director Steven Spielberg and star Tom Hanks are in part responsible for an entertaining film with a good heart. Often entertaining and well acted, "The Terminal" is a sweet little affair which will make you smile. Unfortunately for those wanting substance though, it is an incredibly superficial and shallow film. Never really showing depth or any sort of grit, it is a timely reminder of how films can be good in a mundane sort of way. Worth watching if you fancy being cheered up, but not the sharpest film around.