Our Brand Is Crisis review: “Likeable though ultimately forgettable.”

Our Brand Is Crisis review: A likeable comedy/ drama that definitely benefits from having Sandra Bullock in its lead.

Our Brand Is Crisis is based on the true story of the 2002 Bolivian presidential race where underdog Pedro Gallo brought in campaign strategist Jane Bodine to manage his flagging bid to lead the country. The story was famously made into a celebrated 2005 feature documentary of the same name, but here Sandra Bullock leads the cast as (Calamity) Jane opposite Billy Bob Thornton‘s Pat Candy, her highly skilled arch nemesis who is batting for the other team; firm favourite to win, Victor Rivera.

David Gordon Green, a director who cut his cinematic teeth with stoner comedies Pineapple Express and Your Highness, before going the more serious route with Joe and last year’s Mangelhorn, takes the helm for this over-cooked political drama that relies on Bullock’s quirk and overdone clumsiness. The film, which offers a fictionalised account of the events of 2002, is more comedy than serious political piece, with proceedings bordering on farce rather than satire.

Our Brand Is Crisis manages to steer clear of any romantic offerings between its two leads (thankfully) despite constant teetering on the verge throughout. Bullock is solid as the central character of Bodine, and Billy Bob Thornton is, as ever, more than reliable as her fierce opponent. Thornton’s Candy suffers from not getting as much screen time as he deserves, but Bullock’s strong female role more than makes up for his shortcomings. Then there’s Anthony Mackie in a rather lacklustre supporting role, which is neither here nor there. He’s solid in the material he’s given but not given time to shine.

The plot intrigues, but doesn’t fulfil early promise and leaves one feeling slightly empty when the credits finally roll. In a season full of similarly themed character-driven films (we’re thinking this week’s The Big Short and next week’s Spotlight), Our Brand Is Crisis unfortunately falls quite short of the mark.

Though, as we said, Sandra Bullock is always watchable, and absolutely is so here too, and easily the best thing about the movie. It is witty; it’s always upbeat and mostly very entertaining, A solid, funny though clunky political satire with a strong lead hitting all of the right notes.

It’s a decent film; just missing that little something that could make it great.

Our Brand Is Crisis review by Paul Heath, January 2016.

Our Brand Is Crisis hits UK cinemas on Friday 22nd January, 2016.