Movie Review: The Rum Diary

In 1998, a little movie based on a Hunter S. Thompson novel starring Johnny Depp called Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was released and soon became a cult classic. Thirteen years later, Depp is starring in The Rum Diary,  another adaptation of a Thompson novel. Though it doesn't have the same levels of brilliant luancy and twisted genius that Fear and Loathing had (though it very well could also become a cult classic), The Rum Diary is still a clever and entertaining dark comedy ride. Much like Fear and Loathing, the two biggest strengths of The Rum Diary are Johnny Depp and the subtle, dark wit of Thompson's source material. Depp just owns the role of drunk journalist Paul Kemp. The whole film, no matter if his character is in a chaotic situation or just having a causal conversation, Depp maintains this calming and cool presence. He just has such a strange yet cool charisma that it makes almost every film he is in a pleasure to watch (with the exception of his frequent collaborations with Tim Burton). On top of Depp's great performance, The script is full of fun. The story is basic, but it's the wit of the script that makes it watchable. Kemp writes for a newspaper in San Juan, Puerto Rico and gets involved with a shady businessman (Aaron Eckhart) and falls in love with his girlfriend (Amber Heard). In the hands of weaker source material, this would have been a booze-soaked, misguided mess, but this is an intelligent, clever and amusing ride of unpredictable chaos for two hours. The Rum Diary isn't the abstract masterpiece that Fear and Loathing was, but it's still completely worth the watch .

3.5/5 Stars