Lonely Planet Review: “Lonely Planet” is a 2024 American romantic drama film written and directed by Susannah Grant. It stars Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth in lead roles. The story revolves around a successful female novelist who falls in love with a 30-year-old man in an exotic location.
Introduction
“Lonely Planet” is a Netflix film written by Susannah Grant, known for her work on “Erin Brockovich” and as a co-creator of the underrated series “Unbelievable.” Described by Rachel Handler of Vulture as a film that advances the era of “New Milf Cinema,” it presents a travel romance that exceeds Netflix average expectations.
This year, as we see young men wooing older women in romantic films like “The Idea of You” and “Babygirl” it feels refreshing that writer-director Susannah Grant’s “Lonely Planet” does not make the age gap a central issue. Instead, she is more interested in exploring the complexities that connect these individuals’ lives. While many nuances of the film need improvement, the entanglements present in the lives of both characters are quite compelling.
Lonely Planet Review
Don’t be confused by the popular travel site and book series; Susannah Grant’s ‘Lonely Planet’ is only slightly about destinations and more about the people who find themselves at a crossroads in an unknown part of Morocco. In a loosely structured retreat, established writer Catherine (Laura Dern) tries to rekindle her literary spark, which has dimmed after unsuccessful attempts.
The way the characters are portrayed is the most engaging aspect of this story: unlike in other films, Catherine is not externally sexually frustrated, nor is she a victim of her current circumstances. She does not make any advances toward Owen, although there are certainly sparks flying whenever they are together. This couple and their relationship feel real and complex.
Catherine does not seem outwardly impressed by Owen (Liam Hemsworth), but internally she is a bit unstable. Owen, who has a charming, dashing, and quietly confused personality, is the plus-one of his writer girlfriend Lily at the retreat. It is Catherine’s lack of interest in him that attracts Owen. During their initial meetings, Catherine mostly ignores him while focusing on her long-overdue novel. In the film, Laura Dern is shown in well-fitting trousers and linen, looking frustrated as she types on screen.
Both are living in the misconception that their struggles bring them happiness, but when the chance for true love arises, they learn through self-acceptance that they can become better versions of themselves together. Dern and Hemsworth deliver this beautifully, adding a lively playfulness to the genre’s essential clichés (like their first meeting and the confrontation in the third act).
Lonely Planet Synopsis
The world-renowned novelist Catherine (Laura Dern) is stuck in a rut. Recently separated from her sculptor ex-husband who has been battling cancer, she has been thrown out of her home. Struggling to write her next bestseller, she travels thousands of miles away to a special international writing retreat in Marrakech to overcome her despair and meet her editor’s deadline.
Enter thirty-year-old Owen (Liam Hemsworth). He believes he has life figured out. Managing a high-stakes private equity job, he remains loyal to his writer girlfriend Lily (Diana Silvers), who has become an overnight sensation and is struggling with the pressures of writing her next book. But fate brings Owen and Catherine together during their explorations of the Moroccan markets, while other retreat attendees are busy with work and sightseeing.
A flirtatious friendship develops between them, leading to discussions on deep topics such as travel, career, and the human experience. However, the façade of Owen and Lily’s seemingly perfect relationship begins to crumble as their daily conversations quickly turn into arguments. Gradually, it becomes clear that Owen and Catherine’s paths are destined to collide in a passionate affair.
Grant shows a deep interest in understanding the nuances and contexts of her main characters, especially regarding the inevitable heated relationship between Owen and Catherine. She highlights the subtleties of the young couple’s quarrels and struggles, hinting that their relationship is more damaged than the real ruins they observed during their day trip. In Owen and Lily’s breakup, there is no traditional “bad guy”; however, Lily’s ego, sarcastic hypocrisy, and emotional infidelity with fellow writer Rafiq (Younes Bouchemlal) are much more evident compared to Owen’s workaholism, which distracts him.
Lonely Planet Cast
- Laura Dern as Katherine Loewe
- Liam Hemsworth as Owen Brophy
- Diana Silvers as Lily Kemp
- Younes Boucif as Rafih Abdo (as Younes Boucif)
- Adriano Giannini as Ugo Jaconelli
- Rachida Brakni as Fatema Benzakour
- Shosha Goren as Ada Dohan
- Heeba Shah as Jesminder Malik
- Gustav Dyekjear Giese as Gunnar Norgaard (as Gustav Giese)
- Jean-Erns Marie-Louise as Fabien Durosier
- Michelle Greenidge as Philippa Guscott
- Francesco Martino as Luca
- Yahya Et Tonia as Aziz
- Sami Fekkak as Hamid
- Tao Guo as Peng Zhao
- Muhammad Abdullah Arabi as Deepak
Charectors and Visuals
If the chemistry between the couple at the center of this romantic comedy is lacking, can you at least enjoy the scenery or the retreat at the resort? Unfortunately, it’s not “The White Lotus” You can only enjoy the view at a glance. In the film, Morocco serves merely as a backdrop that could easily be replaced by any other TikTok destination.
I’m not sure if cinematographer Ben Smithard intended to use blurry or shaky shots, but it was so evident that it distracted this viewer’s attention. The story barely mentions the location of Chefchaouen, and its beautiful blue buildings are only admired for a short time before moving on. The resort’s host, Fatima Benzakor (Rachida Brakni), hardly leaves an impression on screen, which can also be said for most of the other Moroccan characters.
Lily’s new Libyan writer friend Rafiq (Younes Bouab) is central to the story yet almost disappears. In fact, all the other characters are reduced to some stereotype of the writer, most of whom are clever, ruthless, and libertine.
Aesthetic Beauty and Familiar Themes
Grant sets the tone of the film in the vein of “Under The Tuscan Sun” rather than Netflix usual light-hearted romantic films. Still, the central message of the story, that sometimes people have to get lost to find themselves feels like a familiar notion, akin to a simple phrase written on home decor, rather than a deep sentiment.
It seems that the aesthetics are trying to mask the film’s hollowness, whether it’s the travelogue-like visuals of the grand estate and its beautiful desert surroundings, or the warm smiles of the locals who feed and clothe the weary explorers. While the characters and their situations are interesting, it feels like the overall result of the film is not as impactful as the sum of its parts.
Conclusion
Still, Lonely Planet proves to be much smarter and more sensitive than its superficial, showy ‘beach read.’ The film features several tourist spots in Morocco, from Marrakech to Chefchaouen, elevating it above the typically lighter films on Netflix. However, it also presents a small yet effective montage that breaks the film’s ‘foreign’ atmosphere, showing the retreat’s service workers cleaning up beer bottles, trash, and a discarded bra after a night of partying.
The flaws of all the characters ironically lend weight to a central romance between two easily dislikable individuals, filmed with a natural ease as they drunkenly circle around each other on a hazy shore. Dern and Hemsworth both bring their essential traits (sparkling, layered neuroses, sad eyes, and abs) to this duo, making the relationship feel sharp, unexpected, and tender, including a very ‘female-gaze’ sex scene filmed on a dresser.
The conclusion, which ends abruptly, suddenly plunges into an impossible romance. It’s better than expected, more stable and self-aware, sufficient to overcome clichés and occasionally heavy dialogue. This film is a mostly pleasant addition to the welcome sub-genre of thoughtful and desirable themes about aspiring women over 40.