"Elizabethtown" marks Orlando Bloom's entrance into the 21st century in a funny, touching and well-constructed movie.
The plot begins when young shoe designer Drew Baylor (Orlando Bloom) loses his company nearly $1 billion dollars with one disastrous product launch. His quirky boss (Alec Baldwin) fires him, prompting Drew to attempt suicide. But he is saved when his sister calls with the news that their father had a heart attack and Drew is the family's representative to immediately claim the body.
Drew then hops onto a deserted flight to Elizabethtown, Kentucky in the wee hours of the morning. There he meets witty flight attendant Claire (Kirsten Dunst) who has no choice but to start up a conversation. Their brief but telling exchange leaves Drew with Claire's phone number, and when he meets his overwhelming and fanatical extended family, he gives in and calls her. The sparks fly between them, and soon they promise to go on a road trip across the country together. It is on this journey that Drew really finds himself and, eventually, finds the girl.
One of the most appealing parts of this movie, written and directed by Oscar-winner Cameron Crowe ("Almost Famous," "Jerry Maguire"), is its ability to make humor out of less-than-humorous situations. For example, Drew can't just commit suicide; he has to duct tape a kitchen knife to his exercise bike while his phone rings to the tune of "I can turn your gray sky bluer."
The performances are also fantastic. Much of Bloom's performance centers on simply the facial expressions or the quirky traits he brings to Drew. So many of Drew's thoughts can be read on his face, a testament to Bloom, who is finally able to express himself without heavy costuming and prosthetics. Dunst plays the sharp, odd and intuitive Claire very well, with a constant and knowing smile. And Alec Baldwin gives a pitch-perfect performance as Drew's bizarre boss. The collection of relatively unknown actors as Drew's Kentucky family is always on hand for a laugh, whether at themselves or others. Judy Greer and Susan Sarandon also deliver excellent supporting performances as Drew's exasperated immediate family.
Crowe masterfully uses different camera angles to capture his setting and draws beautiful performances out of his actors. He makes himself out to be a brave filmmaker, often leaving the camera sitting on an actor, allowing facial expressions to do half the speaking. Crowe also uses both internal and external narration in perfect harmony, with Drew's thoughts often broken by a spoken word or the ring of his cell phone.
In the end, the most bothersome aspect of the movie is its drawn out plot. Drew takes his road trip late in the movie, after the apparent climax and viewers might feel that the movie is mostly wrapped up by the time Drew sets off on this life-altering trip. This adds to the feeling that the film is a bit long. Also, the movie is more complicated than it seems, with many subplots that add to the movie but seem unresolved as the plot moves along. Finally, while it is clear that the movie is about Drew and Claire's evolving relationship and how they change themselves and one another, it is hard to ignore the loveable cast of characters that make up Drew's family. Both Greer and Sarandon were underused and under-illustrated, as was Drew's cousin, Jessie.
Still, Crowe's ability to make a laugh-out-loud funny and sincerely touching movie in spite of its revolution around a funeral shows talent and skill. It is a movie that keeps viewers entertained until the last minute, even if the only reason they entered the theatre was to see Bloom in jeans and a T-shirt.
