“Lonely Planet” is a Slow-Burn Romance that Falls Short of Spark

Older women are receiving love on streaming services thanks to the age-gap romance film trope taking the world by storm. From “The Idea of You” to “A Family Affair,” they prove that age is just a number when it comes to matters of the heart.

“Lonely Planet” takes place in the breathtaking city of Chefchaouen, Morocco. A middle-aged, successful writer, Katherine Loewe (Laura Dern) struggles to find her spark again after separating from her longtime partner. To get her creative juices flowing, she enrolls in a writer’s retreat in a Morrocan resort. There, she meets a younger man, finance manager Owen Brophy (Liam Hemsworth), who is only present at the retreat to support his girlfriend, novel writer Lily Kemp (Diana Silvers).

Katherine and Owen find common ground in their wallflower-like antics and soon become fast friends. Their friendship slowly but surely turns romantic, but before it fully blossoms, Katherine leaves the retreat due to a reality check. Fast forward to a few years later, the couple reunite and rekindle the lost flame.

“Lonely Planet,” for what it is worth, excels slightly in the cinematography department thanks to the direction of head of photography Ben Smithard. The Chefchaouen landscapes, markets, and dirt roads are enough to create a visually appealing picture in the eyes of viewers who may or may not have been to the city, but for some reason, the potential of the cinematography is not fully realized. Why? Because Chefchaouen is treated as more of background imagery which hinders its beauty. If the film shots were angled more toward the immersive experience of viewers and less on visual impact, it might have been a better film.

Furthermore, the film tends to be a bore, and honestly, the dull chemistry between Dern and Hemsworth is to blame. This is not to imply that their acting skills are lackluster−far from it. Dern is an Academy Award winner and has earned her stripes as one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood, and it is not hard to see why. All that is needed is to watch her performances in “Big Little Lies” and “Marriage Story.” As for Hemsworth, he can be a pretty convincing romantic male lead and has “The Last Song,” to show for it, but for some reason, their partnership in “Lonely Planet” did not work out. It lacks yearning, desperation, spark, and believability. Rather than being convincing, the romance falls short of the magnetic pull necessary for successful love stories.

The lead characters have enough backstories and baggage to connect on a deeply personal level. Katherine is witty and intelligent but knows how to be vulnerable when the situation requires it. Her heart is literally breaking because her longtime partner has an “epiphany” and declares she is not the loving type. Owen on the other hand is at a personal crossroads, stuck in a career that is practical enough to pay the bills but leaves him morally bankrupt. Director Susannah Grant should have leveraged these strengths and flipped them into a romantic goldmine. Perhaps 96 minutes was far from enough for the story she envisioned.

Nevertheless, Dern should be praised for trying to save the film. Her portrayal of Katherine, an accomplished yet isolated woman, is enough to make viewers stick around in the long haul.

The supporting characters add little to the emotional weight of the film. Rafih Abdoh (Younes Boucif), the Libyan writer who fancies Lily, and Fatemah Benzakour (Rachida Brakni), the host who befriends Katherine, have limited screen time. If their characters had gone through some form of development instead of being tossed into the film like extras, they would have offered more cultural context or emotional depth to the film. Emotional vulnerability is a burden left to the lead characters, thus making the narrative less enjoyable.

“Lonely Planet,” despite its flaws, does have commendable strengths. Like most age-gap romance films, it candidly discusses how society views relationships on that spectrum, especially when the woman is the older one in the relationship. It also hinges heavily on character dialogue, which is great because that is how Katherine and Owen realize that their feelings for each other are more than platonic. Through dialogue, audiences learn a lot about the leads, like Owen’s high school nickname−−”The Big O”−which mortified him in his younger years, and Katherine’s reason for running to the other side of the world to complete her eighth novel being more than just “writer’s block.”

Lastly, the film thrives in the slow-burn department, so viewers not into the insta-love romance trope will have a field day with this film.

Thematically, “Lonely Planet” explores the fear of taking emotional risks. Katherine hesitates in her romance with Owen because of what people might think and the valid petrification of having her heart broken again. Owen, despite his laid-back personality, is open to the idea of a future with Katherine but has no idea where his life is headed. This theme is very relatable and appeals to both older and younger viewers.

Ultimately, “Lonely Planet” is a quiet film that may attract viewers attuned to slow-paced settings. It leans heavily on Dern’s introspective performance but lacks the sizzling chemistry and burning passion required of proper romance films. The Moroccan setting may have been palatable, but even that was sacrificed on the altar of visual impact.

Proceed with caution when watching “Lonely Planet.” It may sell the age-gap romance trope, but it lacks the emotional impact that viewers may expect.

Release Date: October 11, 2024

Runtime: 1 hour, 36 minutes, and 12 seconds

Streaming Service: Netflix

Director: Susannah Grant

Cast: Laura Dern, Liam Hemsworth, Diana Silvers, Younes Boucif, Adriano Giannini, and Rachida Brakni