A Life Less Ordinary

Danny Boyle and John Hodge are back in action after the popular and critical success of "Trainspotting". In A Life Less Ordinary, the creative team has made the leap across the pond to the USA together with Ewan McGregor, who had his breakthrough with "Trainspotting". The new film is a blend of road movie and comedy verging on farce.

When the cleaner Robert is dumped by his girlfriend and fired by his boss on the same day, in desperation he takes the boss's daughter Celine hostage. Robert is, however, an amateurish kidnapper, which is why Celine, who has been through it all before, gives him good advice along the way, for she too has a bone to pick with her father, the immensely rich and hard-hearted Naville. At the same time, two angels, O'Reilly and Jackson, are trying by every means to make a couple of Celine and Robert, for love is having a hard time on earth. Love, however, does not let itself be manipulated so easily!

A Life Less Ordinary is a charming and quirky comedy, but it feels like a minor effort compared with the far more original "Trainspotting". It is as if the Scots have been on holiday in the USA and shot a little film while they were at it.