Destination Love

By Jonathan L Hermitt

After watching this movie, the only thing that should be "claimed" is a refund.

Director-writer David E Talbert provided a creatively idle rom-com starring Paula Patton (Montana Moore); as a flight attendant who under the pressure of her mother (Jennifer Lawrence) and the wedding engagement of her younger sister (Lauren London) somehow finds herself in a position where she has to locate and bring a fiancé to her sister's rehearsal dinner in thirty days. In doing so, she uses her friends to set up an arguably illegal "spy network" to find out which of her ex- boyfriends are taking which flights- so she can manipulate herself aboard and hopefully start again with these men.

She wears the long, straight rom-com hair of ignorance with the smile of innocence which I like to call a ritual of rom-com. The story was naturally predictable adhering to every single rom-com textbook story model and so heavily resting on weak humour. Alongside the contemporary traditional female friend and gay male friend duo (similar to Devil's Wear Prada) it's one large equation for mediocre...if that.

I'm not particularly familiar with Talbert and this is the first film I've seen of his, regardless, in this film it's strongly indicative that he's chosen quantity over quality.

Playwright David Talbert directs this so called romantic comedy starring Paula Patton as Montana Moore, a lovelorn woman and flight attendant desperate to find true love. After finding out that her little sister is getting married, Montana becomes obsessed with finding a man. So obsessed that with the help of her friends and fellow flight attendants, she tracks down all of her ex boyfriends to see if true love blossoms. Frantically flying from one city to another eventually leads her to her best friend William (Derek Luke)as they realize they're feelings for each other in the end.

Aside from the all star cast, there are so many things wrong with this film. For one, the plot is so unrelatable and cliché. There's a scene in the beginning where Montana runs through the airport saying "According to my mother, you're not a lady unless you're married on or before your 30th birthday. You're not a woman until you've had at least two kids". If I watch one more romantic comedy that consist of mindless, pathetic dialogue like this, I'll scream ! Why would a beautiful woman, a good woman who could clearly have any man she wants spend so much time chasing down ex flames who a) weren't right for her and b) clearly show the same reasons as to why she broke up with them or vice versa in the first place.

The directing is poor. David Talbert, writer and director of several wonderful stage plays resorts to using corny clichés and weak dialogue to carry the film along and it just doesn't work. It's the same old plot of the lonely girl/guy putting themselves in stupid and unnecessary situations to seek love and romance. Oh and of course there's the case of the pretentious and even more desperate, proud, loving mom who due to her own snooty, high standards, pressures her daughters into believing that a man is necessary to have to prove that you're a woman, a role that Jenifer Lewis, as talented as she is, continues to play very well.

The acting is mediocre. Paula Patton, Jill Scott, Derek Luke and Adam Body are all good actors. Yet, its unfortunate that the acting wasn't up to par. In addition, the wacky performance by several co stars such as Trey Songz and Tia Mowry do not do the film any justice.

The film would've been better with an original plot and better dialogue and acting.

"Baggage Claim" is one of those typical romantic comedies that's predictable you have the girl meets a guy in an unexpected way and falls in love. And true it has plenty of one liners and funny lines to entertain a viewer and it's filled with sugar and spice love scenes to enjoy. As it was a nice eye candy treat seeing the sexy Paula Patton in scenes of sexy lingerie like colored bras. Anyway the story is typical Paula is Montana a flight attendant who's still single and she feels tough when her younger sister is getting married so she starts a plan it's 30 days to find a husband or bust! And this involves trips on airline flights as she sets up meeting after meeting with her past boyfriends to try and reconnect for love in the air! As Montana is tired of being the oldest that's not married! It takes a surprise love twist at the end anyway it's to predictable still watch it for the sexy eye candy scenes of Paula Patton.

I don't know what movie the critics were watching, but the ratings were totally unfair. The audience and I found the movie to be very funny. David Talbert produced a funny, relevant movie. See it with your female friends because they will find things in it are so true. Nothing can be more funny than the truth. So don't take the critics word for this movie see it yourself.

Paula Patton, Adam Brody and Jill Scott were so funny. I expected Adam to be funny because of his work on 'The O.C.", but Paula and Jill were pleasant surprises. Jennifer Lewis delivered another excellent performance and Taye Diggs understated performance was dead-on for his character.

I love a good romantic comedy but Baggage Claim in nowhere even near that type of movie. It seemed more like an corny SNL skit that lasts over an hour. I had the movie already figured out in the first 15 minutes and had to endure the rest of the flick. This plot is just one notch above that goofy Soul Plane from a few years back and a few below Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail. A better script, more realistic characters and a more serious touch the movie might be average. Paula Patton is beautiful as always that you can't deny and Ty Diggs is an accomplished actor but they need to move on into some more serious roles. My advise is don't waste your time on this one. I still can't believe I didn't walk out.