THE TERMINAL

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: language, adult elements

Rated:

My sister works for the airlines and has proven more than once that it's no picnic. It's one thing to work there and leave at night, but it's quite another to be stuck there indefinitely. We've all had that feeling that we're never going to leave the plastic bucket seats inside the terminal. In this film, the challenge presented to the main protagonist is just that -- he cannot leave.

Midway over the Atlantic, just as foreigner Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks) is coming in to New York City, his country is bombed by inner revolutionists who demolish the current government and attempt to set up a new one. Under international law, with a country in such peril, its citizens cannot be allowed into the United States. His passport and visa are now invalid. He cannot go home, but he also cannot leave the airport. The problem comes to the attention of the newly appointed manager of the airlines, Frank Dixon (Stanley Tucci), who sees Viktor as a problem. Giving him a handful of food vouchers and hoping to rectify this problem within twenty four hours, Dixon sends him into the terminal with strict instructions not to leave. NYC looms out the glass doors, and when twenty-four hours stretches into an indefinite period, Dixon gives his refugee multiple chances to escape into the Big Apple, hoping that Viktor will become "someone else's problem."

It soon turns into a battle of wits against the two men. Viktor is struggling to learn English, reeling from the news of his country's devastation, and after losing most of his food vouchers, attempting to make enough money in the airport to feed himself. Meanwhile, Dixon wants to get rid of him, so he's trying everything he can think of to give the refugee that necessary unofficial boot out the door as an illegal alien. Soon other airport employees become involved. Viktor acts as a liaison between love-struck Enrique Cruz (Diego Luna) and the stamp girl at the international booth (Zoë Saldana). He befriends the crotchety old janitor, who washes floors for the distinct purpose of seeing people slide and fall on them. He also makes a friend of beautiful but misguided flight attendant Amelia Warren (Catherine Zeta-Jones).

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this film. I'm not a big fan of Tom Hanks and the movie didn't look that amusing from the trailers, so I was very much surprised at how enjoyable it was. The characters were humorous without becoming stereotypes, the acting was very good on the part of all involved, the funny scenes were actually funny, and the sad scenes were actually sad. It's a great little movie with a lot of heart behind it, and while it does seem a little long in places, the performances and charm of being a "man without a country" more than make up for its deficiencies. There are flaws, namely some language (including one abuse of Jesus' name, and two of GD) some of which is played for laughs (Viktor's thick accent makes "cheat" sound like "sh*t"), and innuendo. There are a few brief conversations about sex. Men in the poker room play cards for a pair of panties that they swear belonged to Cher.

Amelia is having an affair with a married man, and although she leaves him for awhile, ultimately they get back together again. She has no remorse about the marriage she is ruining, or the reputation she is giving herself. The woman has identity issues and insecurity about her ability to be alone, and while her friendship with Viktor is very sweet, it never goes further than that. It's an interesting way to approach the film, and gives it unique perspective. Viktor rapidly becomes a likable character who is imaginative, willing to work hard, and eager to be compassionate to others. He's the kind of a hero that makes a movie like this not only work, but become very enjoyable.

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