George Clooney and Julia Roberts are one of the most potent romantic comedy team ups working today. Which isn't to say that they work together all that often; in fact it has been six years since they were in a movie together. Now, TICKET TO PARADISE brings Clooney and Roberts together again, and we’re excited to see how their on screen relationship has evolved.
TICKET TO PARADISE stars Roberts and Clooney as a divorced couple whose daughter has impulsively decided to marry a local she met in Bali. Fearing that she’s about to make the same mistake that did, they rush to the island with plans to disrupt the wedding by any means necessary. Naturally, comedic and romantic shenanigans ensue.
Their Charm Is Unchanged
That trailer gives us a good look at the sort of energy the stars bring to the table. It has been twenty years since their first pairing, and the passage of time gives the backstory of this movie a touch of truth. It's so easy to believe that these two people are the characters the movie wants us to see. (Aside from the fact that Clooney and Roberts are very obviously movie stars rather than regular people.)
Deep History
George Clooney and Julia Roberts forged their on-screen bond in Steven Soderberghs' 2001 caper movie OCEAN'S ELEVEN and developed their chemistry further in the outrageous sequel, OCEAN'S TWELVE. Each actor has a megawatt smile that complements the other, and Soderbergh was able to shine a pure spotlight on their seemingly effortless chemistry. It was easy to believe that the two were a once-estranged but still-in-love couple. Hm. Seems like a jumping-off point for TICKET TO PARADISE.
The two have done other movies together, but their joint resume isn't exactly long. Roberts was in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, produced by Clooney, and his directorial debut CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND. But they didn't share scenes in those movies. When Clooney and Roberts did share the screen again, in Jodie Foster's 2016 movie MONEY MONSTER, it wasn't as a comedic or romantic pairing.
Such is the power of the OCEAN'S movies — and of the Clooney/Roberts chemistry — that it helps create the image of a pairing that is far more prolific than in reality.
A Suitably Over-the-Top Director
Wondering what filmmaker could channel and intensify the charm of this star pair? In this case, Clooney (who also produced) turned to someone who made an absolutely bonkers romantic sequel: Ol Parker. He directed MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN and has a solid romantic background as the writer of the BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL movies. He also scripted with Daniel Pipski, who produced the series "A Teacher."
We'd love to see Clooney and Roberts re-team with Steven Soderbergh for another OCEAN'S movie, but the madcap romcom adventure of TICKET TO PARADISE will keep us happy in the meantime. You can see TICKET TO PARADISE exclusively in movie theatres this fall.
TICKET TO PARADISE opens on October 21.
All images courtesy of Universal Pictures.