Bright spot on the horizon

The promo posters for After the Sunset depict Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek doing their best to look dangerously cool, while Woody Harrelson and the other stars just look dangerous.

Alas, looks can be deceiving. Despite its high production values and some thrilling moments, this film works best as a comedy, with generous helpings of romance.

The plot involves master thief Max Burdett, who, after making his last big score and embarrassing FBI agent Stan Lloyd (Harrelson) in the process, retires to a beautiful Caribbean island. Along with Lola (Hayek), his partner in crime and in bed, Max lives a life of leisure in which his biggest worry is whether he’s eating too much lobster.

When Stan shows up one day warning him not to steal a precious diamond that just happens to be on display on a cruise ship docked in town, a dangerous cat and mouse game ensues.

In a movie packed with this much star power, chemistry is crucial. Fortunately, it’s in generous supply. Brosnan and Hayek ooze sexual energy, while possessing sophistication and intelligence that complement the romantic elements. I would like to see them teamed up again in a more adult venture.

The relationship between Max and Stan also is explored, as we eventually see that the men have a begrudging respect for each other. Brosnan and Harrelson play well off each other, providing an opposites-attract buddy element to the film. One particularly funny scene involves the pair on a fishing trip and ends with Stan shooting a shark.

If the movie was intended as a straight jewel-thief flick, it comes up short. The caper scenes are just not done with as much care as the rest. Director Brett Ratner, whose credits include Rush Hour, seems to have a gift for making big, entertaining popcorn movies that make people smile. With gorgeous locations and witty repartee, After the Sunset induces a similar afterglow.

After the Sunset
PG-13
Starting tomorrow at area theaters
Three reels out of four

Recommended rental

Elf
PG
Available Tuesday

Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a regular-sized person who was raised as an elf by Santa Claus (Edward Asner). When the news is finally broken to Buddy that he’s not a real elf, he heads back to his place of birth, New York City, in search of his biological family. Admittedly, Ferrell is not everybody’s cup of tea; I find him terrifically annoying most of the time. Yet here, his naiveté is sort of endearing. It helps that director Jon Favreau keeps things from getting too edgy. Also starring James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Zooey Deschanel and Bob Newhart.