FBI agent Stanley Lloyd (Woody Harrelson) is so tired of being bested by a jewel thief couple, Max (Pierce Brosnan) and Lola (Salma Hayek), that he tracks them down to their retirement island paradise convinced that they’re up to something.
It just so happens that a cruise ship carrying a priceless gem is docked at the same island that they picked to live out the rest of their lives. Max claims to be unaware of it but Lola knows that Max may be unable to resist the temptation of one last score. It also turns out that the local island crime boss, Henri Mooré (Don Cheadle), also has an eye on the diamond. He wants Max to steal it for him so he can fund some sort of project for himself. Yawn.
As a comedy, After the Sunset is pretty good. Unfortunately, it also tries pretty hard to be a sort of low-rent caper/romance set in an exotic locale. It fails miserably in that regard. It does succeed in making a likable on-screen couple of Woody Harrelson and Pierce Brosnan. (Yes, I do mean it like it sounds. Well, almost.) Director Brett Ratner goes out of his way to find ingenious excuses to aim the camera down Salma Hayek’s shirt but her scenes with Brosnan don’t work romantically.
Naomi Harris, as local cop, Sophie, who teams up with Agent Lloyd, is given the thankless role of a sort of disposable romantic prop. One minute she’s a serious cop, then she’s making out with Lloyd, and then she practically disappears from the film.
Try as it might, After the Sunset is not a smart movie, nor is it romantic. It’s sort of humorous but, otherwise, it’s just forgettable.
2.0 out of 5.0 stars
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