By Robert Yaniz Jr.

DAY 5 OF THE 2018 HOLIDAY BINGE

Charming performances transcend a by-the-numbers Hollywood race dramedy.

THE HYPE

Green Book may be the last project you’d expect to be co-written and directed by one of the men behind Dumb and Dumber and There’s Something about Mary. Yet, the new film from director Peter Farrelly isn’t only an unlikely combination of racial drama and culture clash comedy. Following its lauded premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival — where it won the People’s Choice Award — Green Book has been riding a wave of praise (and, naturally, criticism) to become one of the most talked-about awards contenders.

THE STORY

Viggo Mortensen stars as Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga, an Italian-American bouncer who’s hard on his luck and dying for a paycheck to get his family through the holiday season. Enter Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), a black musician in need of a driver and bodyguard for a tour through the Deep South. What ensues is a road trip littered with legitimate racial tension (the film is set in 1962, after all) and “hilarious” references to racist stereotypes. Anyone willing to bet whether this odd couple learns to set aside its differences?

THE CAST

While the Green Book script does little to shed any real light on race relations, the performances here certainly elevate the material substantially. Although Mortensen is saddled with little more than a meatball-munching cliche to play, he does so with gusto, breathing more life than expected by the time the credits roll. The Oscar-winning Ali is the real standout here, as his understated turn captures Don’s simmering rage. Also, Linda Cardellini slays with the little material she has to work with as Tony’s supportive wife.

THE PRODUCTION

The performances aside, there’s not much in Green Book to set it apart from a zillion other similarly moralizing inspired-by-a-true story films about race relations. The jokes and dramatic confrontation are either unimaginative or telegraphed from a mile away. Its social commentary comes off as fairly superficial, though it does attempt to shine a light on both men’s preconceived notions and prejudices. While some have called out its simplistic, sanitized view of racism, such a take is par for the course in Hollywood.

THE VERDICT

Yet, despite itself, Green Book is a thoroughly enjoyable watch, a kind of cinematic comfort food. It doesn’t challenge its viewers in any way, and yes, that sometimes manifests itself as lazily leaning on cliche and/or narrative shortcuts to manufacture the requisite Oscar moments. Green Book dilutes what might have been a far more powerful story by playing to the lowest common denominator instead. Worst film of the year? Of course not. But it certainly doesn’t deserve to sweep awards season either. Ahem.

Green Book stars Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali and Linda Cardellini and is directed by Peter Farrelly.