Baggage Claim – A Fox Searchlight Release

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/baggageclaim/

Blu-ray Release Date: February 4th, 2014

Rated PG for sexual content and language

Running time: 96 minutes

David E. Talbert (dir.)

David E. Talbert (screenplay)

Aaron Zigman (music)

Paula Patton as Montana Moore

Derek Luke as William Wright

Taye Diggs as Langston

Jill Scott as Gail

Adam Brody as Sam

Jenifer Lewis as Catherine

Djimon Hounsou as Quinton

Lauren London as Sheree

Our reviews below:

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Baggage Claim Blu-ray Review By John Corrado

** (out of 4)

Determined to find a man before her younger sister’s wedding, Montana Moore (Paula Patton) uses her connections as a flight attendant to track down her exes and meet up with them while in the air.  The hope is that one of them might be compatible again and her mother (Jenifer Lewis) will stop worrying on her behalf, but could Montana’s sweet neighbour and longtime friend William Wright (Derek Luke) actually be Mr. Right?

Although Baggage Claim is completely predictable right from the start and often unabashedly clichéd, including an embarrassing slow motion sex scene at the beginning, the film itself is actually fairly decent.  There are no real surprises here, except for the fact that this is a pleasantly charming film, providing a harmless and mindless diversion for those seeking a wholesome romantic comedy with a sweet message and likeable cast.  Just don’t expect anything you haven’t seen before.

The Blu-ray includes commentary with director David E. Talbert, deleted scenes and several featurettes.

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Baggage Claim Blu-ray Review By Erin V.

** (out of 4)

Baggage Claim follows flight attendant Montana Moore (Paula Patton), who has just found out that her youngest sister is getting married, and is feeling pressure from her mother and family to have a date for the wedding.  Always a bridesmaid, and never a bride, Montana turns to the help of her friends Gail (Jill Scott) and Sam (Adam Brody) to help her track down her old exes and see if maybe she just might have overlooked ‘Mister Right’ beforehand.  Getting support from her neighbour and long-time friend William (Derek Luke) as well, Paula has to figure out if what everyone else wants for her is what she wants as well.

The plot is clichéd and the ending is pretty predictable from quite early on.  The premise (in which her friends at the airport keep telling her which flight her exes will be on) is far-fetched at best, and the humour is pretty on the nose.  Still, for those just looking for a very light romantic comedy, there is far worse you could do than Baggage Claim.  It’s entertaining enough for a rental on DVD.

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Baggage Claim Blu-ray Review By Nicole

**1/2 (out of 4)

Baggage Claim is a silly yet entertaining romantic comedy.  Taking place around Christmas, the film stars Paula Patton as Montana Moore, a flight attendant who is looking for a man before her younger sister’s wedding.  Friends Gail (Jill Scott) and Sam (Adam Brody) try to hook Montana up with her exes by having her “accidentally” meet them on a flight.  None work out, but Montana’s childhood friend William Wright (Derek Luke) is there to comfort her.

Baggage Claim is cheesy and predictable, but who cares.  This movie is a pleasant diversion, that would be especially fun around Christmas.

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Baggage Claim Blu-ray Review By Maureen

** (out of 4)

Nobody’s going to claim Baggage Claim is brilliant filmmaking.  However, this is a kind of sweet, pleasantly entertaining and lightweight romantic comedy, and sometimes that’s enough.  Much of the film takes place in airports and on planes.  Montana Moore (Paula Patton) is a pretty and single thirtyish flight attendant.  When her 21-year-old sister (Lauren London) announces her engagement, Montana just knows their five times married Momma (Jenifer Lewis) will be all over her for not finding a man of her own by now.

When the man she thought was the one turns out to be unavailable, Montana turns to her good buddies, fellow flight attendants Gail (Jill Scott) and Sam (Adam Brody), for advice.  With only a month to go before little sister’s big day, Gail and Sam suggest Montana recycle some former boyfriends into current ones.  They cook up a plan to have her “accidentally” bump into them on various flights.  Montana goes along with their plan and rediscovers why she didn’t end up with these guys in the first place.  Thank goodness her apartment neighbour and old high school friend William Wright (Derek Luke) is always there as a shoulder to cry on, even if he has a girlfriend.  Could true love be closer than she thinks?

Baggage Claim is completely predictable.  But that’s what makes it so easy to watch.  The almost all black cast is pleasant, and there is enough humour to keep the mood light and entertaining.  This is the kind of movie you rent when you want a romantic comedy that will do the job of making you laugh for 96 minutes with no greater expectations.  With Valentines around the corner, this is worth checking out, especially if you are familiar with the actors.

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Baggage Claim Blu-ray Review By Tony

** (out of 4)

Baggage Claim revolves around flight attendant Montana Moore (Paula Patton), the oldest of five daughters by five fathers from the same mother Catherine (Jenifer Lewis). About to marry off her last daughter, Catherine has always nagged Montana about marriage and now about to turn thirty, with thirty days left before her sister’s wedding, Montana is determined to find a husband for herself. Her flight crewmates, the buxom promiscuous Gail (Jill Scott) and gay Sam (Adam Brody) enlist the help of other airline employees to track some of Montana’s exes so she can book herself on flights they take, hoping that running into them again would renew any sparks they once had.

The men she reconnects with include the smooth rich Graham (Boris Kodjoe), urban musician Damon (Trey Songz), pompous Republican politician Langston (Taye Diggs), and aristocratic African tycoon Quinton (Djimon Hounsou). For various reasons, none of them is marriage material for Montana, and she always returns home to the moral support of William (Derek Luke), her neighbour and friend since childhood, whose own recent marriage may not be as happy as he hopes.

Despite a sweet but totally predictable outcome, silly premise not unlike the recent What’s Your Number? and stereotypical characters, Baggage Claim is watchable enough thanks to an attractive cast and some amusing travel sequences, but among romantic comedies featuring African-Americans, there are a lot of better choices.

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Consensus: Although Baggage Claim is entirely predictable right from the opening scenes, this is a charming enough film with a likeable cast, providing a harmless diversion for those wanting a lightweight romantic comedy.  ** (Out of 4)