Modern auteur Wes Anderson is back with another gorgeously symmetrical and ornamented feast for the eyes that, as usual, evokes hearty laughs from its audience. Though I had a great time with this movie, Anderson is starting to become formulaic with his stories. The Phoenician Scheme is still great fun, but it’s what one would expect from the filmmaker.
Benicio del Toro stars as Zsa-Zsa Korda, a hard-hearted, wealthy businessman who not only has acquired many enemies but is also wanted for crimes committed in multiple countries. After surviving numerous attempts on his life, Korda decides, once and for all, to get his affairs in order and to complete his life goals. This plan initially involves getting reacquainted with his estranged daughter, Liesel (Mia Threapleton), a young woman who has become a nun. She reluctantly agrees to serve as his heir and assist him in accomplishing his goals of revitalizing Phoenicia’s infrastructure. Joined by tutor-turned-administrative assistant Bjørn Lund (Michael Cera), Korda and Sister Liesel must travel the world to meet with business partners to accomplish his master plan, which he calls The Phoenician Scheme. They must, of course, achieve this before their enemies catch up with them.
The sharp, witty writing, the quirky comedy gags, and the mostly deadpan style are fully intact, as is a story that feels strikingly similar to previous Anderson movies, The Royal Tennenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Both of these movies feature a father who gets reunited with an estranged child or children for mostly selfish reasons but eventually changes into a better person. That is, in fact, my main complaint about this film. The story just isn’t fresh.
At the same time, the comic gags and the fun characters did keep me interested and entertained. Benicio del Toro, an actor who made his first appearance in Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch, proves once again that he is a natural fit for Anderson’s style. I also enjoyed Mia Threapleton’s performance as the strictly reserved yet sweet Sister Liesel. Michael Cera is hilarious as the awkward, timid, but intelligent tutor-turned-administrative assistant, Bjørn Lund. The movie also features outstanding work by Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Richard Ayoyade, Jeffrey Wright, Riz Ahmed, and Scarlett Johansson.
If you are one of Wes Anderson’s more dedicated fans, then, for sure, The Phoenician Scheme is a movie not to miss. However, if you can’t stand Anderson’s style or are merely a moderate admirer, this can wait until it is available via streaming. The Phoenician Scheme is now playing in select theaters.