Nice Concept, but Wears Out Its Welcome

Rating: 5/10 (2 February 2005)

This film does have appeal. I found it to be light-hearted fun along with another Spielberg film that had a similar tone (Catch Me if You Can). Of course, Hanks is masterful, Zeta-Jones is beautiful and Tucci is incredible in his role as a customs agent. I think most viewers will like or liked the cat and mouse banter between Hanks and Tucci's characters. It reminded me a little of how Forrest Gump kept beating the odds stacked against him.
Unfortnately, half way through this film you begin to look at your watch. I kept thinking enough is enough. Please just get to the point. It is far too long for a film of this type and the payoff at the end did not justify the lengthiness of this film. I was hoping for an ending with more substance. It doesn't follow formula when it comes to the quasi-relationship between Zeta-Jones and Hanks which is refreshing, but at the end of the film I felt like saying, "Okay, what was this whole exercise for?" I give it a 5 because it lost me halfway through the film.