With only a few very notable exceptions, Pierce Brosnan has spent his career playing guys in suits — both figuratively and literally. Sometimes he’s an asshole or glad-hander in a cheap suit, though most of the time he’s a rich, unflappable character who could easily jump in and substitute for the real-life Brosnan in one of his luxury wristwear photo shoots. His latest film, writer-director Joel Hopkins‘ adult caper flick The Love Punch, in which the actor stars opposite Emma Thompson and contrives to stick it to the (French)man by stealing a $10 million diamond, dresses him the same, which is to say nattily, but makes use of this persona in contrasting, effective fashion.
It’s not at all the first time Brosnan has dabbled in romantic comedy, but it is amongst his broadest, most loose-limbed efforts, which helps elevate The Love Punch from trifle to an at times oddly endearing, diversionary romp that will take viewers’ affections exactly as far as their openhearted affinity for its leads carries them. After all, retirees still need a genre yarn every now and then, right? For the full, original review, from Paste, click here. (Ketchup Entertainment, PG-13, 94 minutes)
