_{By: Amanda Guarragi}

They say the age of movie stars has come to an end because there is no real star power that’s coming out of Hollywood. It’s hard to claim which upcoming actor can hold that level of charisma and effortless charm on screen. But there are a couple that comes to mind. Star power means that these actors can elevate any script in any genre, whether it’s interesting or not. They take it, run with it and make it good. To see powerhouses like Julia Roberts and George Clooney back together again as a couple is exactly what the rom-com genre needed right now. The Ocean’s Eleven reunion is what made Ticket to Paradise worth the watch. 

When a divorced couple, Georgia (Julia Roberts) and David (George Clooney) team up and travel to Bali to stop their daughter from making the same mistake they think they made 25 years ago, their antics push them closer together. Director Ol Parker constructed a fairly simple romantic comedy that has the divorced couple at the forefront at all times. Parker and his co-writer Daniel Pipski made sure to explore all sides of relationships; old and new. To witness the budding relationship between Lily (Kaitlyn Dever) and Gede (Maxime Bouttier) was lovely. Bouttier and Dever had a such sweet natural chemistry that only first love can carry. To counter the two of them, Parker and Pipski created a harsh, sarcastic back-and-forth between the divorced couple. The audience can see where love begins, grows, and ultimately how it turns into a situation. 

This movie would not have worked without Roberts and Clooney. Roberts still has that gorgeous smile and infectious laugh. Clooney was as charming as ever with his sly smile. It was incredible to watch them on screen together again. Many women can connect with Georgia’s character because she wanted to put herself first and not forget who she was. All those years ago, at the beginning of her journey into motherhood, she was concerned that she would lose herself. So instead of battling through it with her husband David, she decided to navigate it on her own and fight for her individuality. Meanwhile, David was crushed and held onto their love until the present day. His sarcasm and little jabs towards her were out of frustration. He couldn’t have her and he longed for her. Both of them gave such heartfelt and fun performances that whenever they weren’t on-screen their absence was felt. 

Ticket to Paradise is a fun little romantic comedy with two powerhouse leads that bring the essence of the “movie star” back to the big screen. What Parker and Pipski explored in this movie can resonate with so many. Falling in love can happen when you least expect it, with anyone at any age. It’s possible to learn and grow with your significant other but also as an individual to understand who you are. There is no right way to be in a relationship or to even live your life, and that’s why we all have to take those leaps of faith. To quote Georgia “Why save all the good stuff for later?” Living day-to-day is something that everyone should try to do because life is short. There is nothing wrong with being hopeful or trying to search for what love means to you. It’s all one big mess and if you’re lucky, you find people to enjoy the ride with.