Film Review – The Grand Budapest Hotel

The return of Wes Anderson brings enormous expectations for style, whimsy, and tone. Thankfully, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” lives up to the American Empirical brand name with a tart but soaring display of madcap comedy and lush visual presentation. After the tempered sweetness of “Moonrise Kingdom,” it’s interesting to watch the helmer indulge a peppery sense of mischief, constructing an R-rated misadventure with dubious characters and a valentine to the golden age of hospitality, playing with time, aspect ratios, and an enormous cast of familiar faces to shape a cheeky, occasionally shocking feature that’s thoroughly and blissfully managed by its idiosyncratic creator. Imagine a blend of “The Muppet Movie,” Mel Brooks, and “Where’s Waldo?” and you’re halfway to the carnival ride viewing experience Anderson delivers with this gem. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com