Film Review – Under the Stars

There’s nothing wrong with vanilla entertainment. People need comfort movies, especially ones that play up the power of love and hope, providing escapism with appealing actors involved in mild drama, preferably in an exotic location. “Under the Stars” has a few of these elements, but it’s disappointing to find screenwriter Victoria Vinuesa (“See You On Venus”) remain so unadventurous with the writing. She doesn’t put much thought into the picture, which takes an emotionally wounded man to Italy on vacation, meeting a woman capable of restoring his spirit and power his creativity. Simplicity isn’t the problem, but a lack of charm and tension is, watching director Michelle Danner (“Miranda’s Victim”) unwilling to make a livelier offering of tenderness and companionship. “Under the Stars” has two fine actors in Andy Garcia and Toni Collette, but they’re in support mode here, leaving the rest of the movie to tepid events and easily solvable problems. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com