In “Poolman,” Chris Pine’s debut function, he performs Darren, a distractible pool cleaner who turns into an novice detective when he learns of a municipal conspiracy in Los Angeles. The sure-why-not plot, modeled on the California water seize in “Chinatown,” is much less attention-grabbing than the charismatic solid that rambles together with Pine on his glorious journey.
Pine’s yarn was savaged when it premiered on the Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant final 12 months, however the bitter response is a bit like getting mad at a golden retriever for rolling round within the grass. A shaggy civic gadfly, Darren grandstands at Metropolis Council conferences and turns into so self-absorbed that he forgets what his girlfriend (Jennifer Jason Leigh) does for a residing. His Jungian psychiatrist, Diane (Annette Bening), and her story-spouting filmmaker hubby, Jack (Danny DeVito), take care of him like foster mother and father, whereas apparently overseeing some type of film about his life.
Darren is clued into the unnecessarily complicated water scheme by June (DeWanda Clever, glamorous and gorgeously costumed), who’s an assistant to his nemesis on the Metropolis Council (Stephen Tobolowsky). However the novice sleuthing via Los Angeles landmarks — well shot on movie by Matthew Jensen (“Marvel Girl”) — performs second fiddle to what’s actually a set of heat character sketches and delicate eccentricities punctuated by meditative visions.
Pine properly avoids winks to the viewers. However he whiffs at making the thriller particularly gripping, leaving one as an alternative to savor the moments, like a note-perfect Bening calmly speaking Pine’s befuddled pool man via his newest setback.
Poolman
Not rated. Operating time: 1 hour 40 minutes. In theaters.
