HOLLYWOOD—Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie star in “The Tourist.” With billboard signs all over buses and rooftops, you’d think this film would manage to bring a level of entertainment equal to the hype we’ve been seeing. Depp is excellent, as he always is, but the storyline isn’t as appealing as the teasers have hinted. The studio says, “The story revolves around Frank (Depp), an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise (Jolie) is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path.” That initially sounded very intriguing to me, but the writing became very disjointed and didn’t seem as appealing on screen as it is made to sound.

Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, who has previously directed “The Lives of Others” and several film shorts, has been one of my favorite up-and-coming directors until this film. Another point is that Academy Award® actress Charlize Theron was originally set to do this film, so maybe Angelina Jolie was miscast in the role of Elise. Whatever it is, the chemistry between Depp and Jolie seems pushed and forced on the viewer, instead of being a smooth, more smoldering effect. That is after all, what Angelina Jolie has become known for.

A highlight performances are Paul Bettany, Steven Berkoff and Timothy Dalton. Maybe I went in to the theater expecting a lot more fireworks and chemistry between the leading man and leading lady or maybe I was looking for a more light and upbeat film instead of a drama? Whatever it is, this movie didn’t seem entertaining or interesting to me, which is something rarely said when Johnny Depp stars in anything.

This film does have one redeeming quality. Unlike most films today, it lasts less than two hours. When it ended, I barely waited for the credits, as I thought, I must be missing something. If you want to see an exciting film this weekend, my suggestion is go to see “The Chronicles of Narnia.” That’s a film for the kids, but adults can and will enjoy it as well. I give “Narnia” Four and a half of Five Stars, while “The Tourist” receives Two of Five Stars from this reviewer.

“The Tourist” opened on Friday, December 10 around the nation.