Review: Anne Hathaway & Chiwetel Ejiofor Charm In New Quarantine Flick, Locked Down
Is it still too soon for Hollywood to dabble into quarantine inspired films? The answer for the next few years should always be yes. However, HBO Max & Warner Brothers are set to debut their own quarantine inspired creation, Locked Down, today, Thursday, January 14 and their quarantine film isn’t half bad. Starring Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor, Locked Down follows a recently separated couple, Linda and Paxton as they struggle with the affects of the COVID-19 lock down and their crumbling relationship. After a few crazy weeks into the quarantine in dear old London, Linda, who is a CEO of a marketing firm in the city, develops the crazy idea to steal a three million pound jewel from Harrod’s and enlists Paxton, who happens to be a furloughed shipping driver with a criminal record, to help her with the heist.
The issue with this film is viewers cannot help but critique why proper COVID-19 protocols were not being enforced throughout the film. The entire scene in Harrods is a massive example of things you are not supposed to be doing while in lock down and yet, mask less people are running about, not keeping proper social distancing, as if there is nothing to worry about. These types of things are what remove viewers from the fantasy of film and remind them that they are indeed still locked away in their homes for the unforeseeable future. It is not something viewers look tend to look for in films & TV when trying to escape the real world.
Hathaway and Ejiofor are charming as Linda and Paxton. The duo brings a sense of normalcy and relatability to their characters. Audience goers all over the world will have no problem connecting to the two characters. Ben Stiller, Ben Kingsley, and Mindy Kaling all step in for minor roles that are so quick that it is a wonder why they signed on to do the film in the first place. However, I will never say no to seeing them in a film, no matter how small the role.
The COVID-19 pandemic is still very much an issue and it’s challenging to see something the world is struggling with showcased on our screens. However, if you can get over that aspect of the film, Locked Down stands above the other quarantine themed flicks and relies heavily on the charms of its lead to help move it along.
Grade: B