3615. Baggage Claim (2013)

Starring: Paula Patton, Derek Luke, Taye Diggs

Director: David E. Talbert

Running Time: 96 mins

Baggage Claim is an American film about an air hostess who, despite her mother’s record of husband after husband, is struggling to find a love that means something to her. However, as a slew of men begin to present themselves to her, she begins to realise that the love she’s been searching isn’t too far from home.

While it tells a sweet story, it’s hard to think of a romantic comedy more generic than Baggage Claim. There’s nothing particularly bad about it, but with a distinct lack of good humour and a painfully predictable story full of Hollywood cheese and schmaltz, it’s a fairly dispiriting watch that doesn’t inspire the joy of the fluffiest romantic comedies.

Perhaps I’m being a little harsh. After all, Baggage Claim is only there to make you smile – it feels rather like a Hallmark movie in that vein. The film features a likable enough ensemble cast, with a collection of zany personalities. Although, most of its most entertaining characters are actually on the fringes of the main story, with far blander turns from lead actress Paula Patton and her variety of love interests through the film.

And that’s one of the things that really frustrated me about Baggage Claim. Yes, it’s a fluffly rom-com, but with an absence of decent comedy (I can’t say that I laughed much in this movie), it would have been nice to see a film that was at least enjoyably romantic, and one that you could get emotionally caught up in.

Unfortunately, with a slew of fairly uninteresting men all circling around Paula Patton, there’s nothing particularly romantic about this movie. In fact, the most engaging part of its plot is Patton’s rebellion against her demanding, man-eating mother, but that only comes to a head much later on in the story.

As a result, there’s nothing particularly captivating about Baggage Claim as either a romance movie or a comedy. It’s perfectly sweet, and there’s no need to expect it to be a cinematic masterpiece, but the film lacks the emotional depth or charisma to really endear itself. So, that’s why I’m giving Baggage Claim a 6.1 overall.