As a journalist, it’s hard not to love “The Rum Diary,” Johnny Depp’s newest film that is based off Hunter S. Thompson’s famous novel. However, as a journalist, it’s also easy to see how the general public might hate it.
The film follows the fictional (but rumored true) fable of a new-in-town journalist named Kemp who is thrust into the hustle and bustle (and rum!) of 1950s San Juan, Puerto Rico. Initially assigned to be lowly daily horoscope writer, Kemp quickly gets promoted when his alcoholic co-worker Roburg, who is played by Giovanni Ribisi, upsets the boss and loses his job.
Kemp, who is now the crime and religion editor at the San Juan News, slowly eases his way into the Puerto Rican way of life. What exactly would the Puerto Rican way of life be without copious amounts of rum? Don’t ask Kemp. Throughout ‘The Rum Diaries,” the carefree journalist is seen sipping on the sweet concoction.
In fact, a good part of this movie involves the trouble Kemp gets into after drinking too much with his newspaper compatriot Sala, played by Micheal Rispoli.
The plot seems to thicken when Sanderson, a more than wealthy American businessman who sees Puerto Rico as a never-ending stockpile of cash, approaches Kemp. Sanderson, played by Aaron Eckhart, unveils to Kemp his new plan to build a mega hotel on a Puerto Rican island formerly used as a naval missile target.
Kemp, drunk off rum and Sanderson’s wealth, unwittingly agrees to be the project’s proponent at the San Juan News. Also aiding in his decision is his immediate crush on Sanderson’s girlfriend Chenault, played by Amber Heard. Chenault is a sultry blond seductress that Kemp can’t help but to fall for.
Chenault and Depp’s chemistry is instant as the two tease each other into a semi-affair.
The remainder of “The Rum Diary” deals with Kemp and his on-going battle between being an ethical journalist and cashing in on all of the opportunities that Puerto Rico presents.
For a movie with a 120-minute run time, “The Rum Diary’s” plot is sometimes just present. Either the story is too mundane or the director, Bruce Robinson, got lost within production and forget the most important aspect of storytelling – it has to be interesting.
Adding to the “what is this movie about again?” factor is Johnny Depp’s acting. The usual stellar actor comes off as monotone, robot-like even, in his role as Kemp. Yes, Kemp is a semi-functioning alcoholic, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Depp has to deliver every line as if he temporarily lost feeling in his mouth.
Even though “The Rum Diary” misses quite often, when the movie is at its best, the film is certainly enjoyable. With Hunter S. Thompson’s material as a backdrop, there are plenty of one-liners to keep the quick-witted entertained.
With a story that lacks in depth and an ending that is less than satisfactory, “The Rum Diary,” just like the alcohol which it shares its name with, is sometimes light, sometimes dark and after spending two hours in a room with it, you just feel kind of sick.
