Theatrical Release Poster 2015

They say a change is as good as a rest.   I was more than willing to put that theory to the test when our friend Kenny asked us over for dessert and a movie last night.  We had a choice of recent films on DVD, none of which Nyel or I had seen.  I was the one who got to choose and, being the film buff that I am (not!) it was an eenie-meenie-miney-mo proposition.  (Or is even that much of the old saying politically incorrect these days?)

Perhaps my choice, Aloha, was prompted by the FaceBook message from Steve Rogers the morning after his failed bid for re-election as County Commissioner:   That did not go well. Off to Maui to recover. (I loved that ‘concession’ announcement!)  Certainly, I had never heard of the film and only a few of the names involved – Cameron Crow, Emma Stone, Bill Stone, Alec Baldwin – were even the least bit familiar to me.

Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele

As it turned out, it was the perfect choice!  I loved the scenes filmed at Pu’uhonua o Waimanalo, in the Nation of Hawaii which is the sovereign organization that leases 45 acres from the state.  And the Nation’s leader, Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele, who played himself, stole my heart away.  Plus the music!  I couldn’t help but wonder if Cate Gable, who plays both the ukulele and guitar in the Hawaiian slack key style, had seen the film.  And, if so, what she had thought.  It also goes without saying that I could all but smell the plumeria and feel the enveloping warmth and humidity of vacations past.

Apparently, the film was a big bomb, at least according to the critics, and its financial losses amounted to 65 million dollars when all was said and done.  At least that’s what I read online when I was doing my ‘due diligence’ this morning.  Even had I known those stats beforehand, I would have still loved the movie (except for the Emma Stone part which was a stretch on all counts.)

Aloha had just the right mix of romance, comedy, political/military/corporate ‘intrigue’ and history to successfully remove me from present real-life tensions.  And, isn’t that one of the best reasons to go to the movies?  Especially if you can’t follow Steve’s lead and go straight to the real deal.