Lonely Planet
Synopsis: Middle-aged woman writer may fall for a younger man at a retreat in Morocco.
Being a beautiful man can be lonely. Just ask Liam Hemsworth. Well, I mean he’s probably not lonely for romantic company, but when straight guys jealously regard him, he has to bear up in a manly fashion.
In most cultures women’s beauty is so prized that the adjectives for aesthetically pleasing looks have an association with femininity. And even in socially progressive societies, no man wants to be called a pretty boy. However, these uber attractive men can find themselves among their kind in the movie business.
In Lonely Planet Liam is Owen, a finance guy. His girlfriend is Lily (Diana Silvers), a writer whose debut novel has made a big splash. She is good looking, but not as good looking as Liam.
Lily brings Owen to a writers’ retreat at a small, luxe resort in Morocco. She feels a little bit self-conscious because she authored a ‘beach read’ while the other writers are more literary. But Lily quickly overcomes any shyness and starts introducing herself to the other arriving writers– all older than her and Owen. Speaking of the others…
Laura Dern is Katherine, a critics’ darling on the literary scene. She doesn’t want to meet and greet. She just wants a quiet space to write. When she arrives at the hotel, with its lobby decked out with traditional Moroccan art designs and plush carpets, the manager greets Katherine like visiting royalty. Katherine concedes to group dinners, but says she just wants peace and quiet. Unfortunately, it turns out the plumbing needs to be fixed in her room, so she heads out with her laptop to find a writing nook.
The resort area features pools and groves of plants, and Katherine is picking her way through the oasis when she spies Owen, who comes across as a 6’3″ drink of cool water in the desert. He’s stalking around trying to find good cell service outdoors so that he can close a big deal. Now the contrivances to bring them together can begin…
The next day, Katherine books the hotel car service to bring her into town, because there is nothing like the peace and quiet of a bustling market town in North Africa. Owen ends up booking the ride into town too. When he tries to make small talk with her along the way, she smiles and informs him that she needs to work. He shrugs and turns his sky-blue eyes to gaze out the window.
Don’t think that that will be the end of things! The movie has promised a younger man-older woman romance and they’ll have to bring our two leads together.
Now, Laura Dern is not the glam type of older woman like Anne Hathaway’s art gallery owner who hooks up with a boy bander in The Idea of You . Instead, her Katherine is more like a seasoned bohemian. And Katherine does seem to have a secret weapon, if you will…
Average-looking Katherine is seemingly unfazed by Owen’s youthful beauty. We’re sure that Owen would be accustomed to double takes from men and women, getting swarmed at bars and never having to go to bed alone. But Katherine acts as though he is just some norm core guy. It must be refreshing for Owen. (But I’m guessing that Liam does love the privilege of his man beauty.)
When Lily is introduced to Katherine, she raves about how incredible the revered writer’s novels are, while Katherine graciously receives the praise. When Katherine evades her question about a partner (some guy who was referenced on a book jacket), Owen is intrigued. So… she has no man for one reason or another.
By this time in the movie, it’s been established that Katherine is one of the greatest writers of her generation. Impressive, but Katherine is not a twenty-something gorgeous woman, so Lily pays no mind when Owen and Katherine spend the day together at a neighboring village. The whole experience is a bonding one for Katherine and Owen who speak about important things and share smiles as they move among the welcoming villagers and their goats.
You might be thinking: I want to like Owen, but how can I like him if he cheats on his girlfriend? Well… maybe his girlfriend isn’t so great. The first inkling of trouble is at an evening event that Katherine deigns to show up at. The writers are gathered to play a guessing game whose answers are all famous writers. Not surprisingly, Owen, the finance bro, doesn’t know any important authors. It’s pretty rude of Lily to make a joke about his ignorance to the group. Then Katherine has a sympathetic look on her face that also says: No guilt going after the unappreciated guy.
As the week progresses, Lily is so dazzled at being included in the exclusive writers’ club that she doesn’t notice the meeting of the minds between Owen and Katherine. Nor does she notice Owen appreciatively watching Katherine swim. Nor does she care that Owen and Catherine have gone shopping in Chefchaouen, the Blue City. (Good side trip for us viewers.)
When they are not together, Owen is on the phone rigorously applying business ethics to his latest deal. Thanks to Katherine’s influence! And Katherine is typing away like a madwoman, probably writing some great erotica. Thanks to Owen’s presence!
Lonely Planet wouldn’t be a drama if there wasn’t some impediment for the lovers or would-be lovers. Maybe a misunderstanding? Maybe a revelation?
The important thing is that the brilliant, yet average-looking (but in Hollywood shape) woman catches the attention of the younger, beautiful man. Whether it works out or not, the woman will find the dalliance an empowering and enriching experience.
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