Vibes

Directed by Ken Kwapis, Vibes follows psychics Nick Deezy (Jeff Goldblum) and Sylvia Pickel (Cyndi Lauper) as they reluctantly agree to travel to South America to hopefully locate their client’s (Peter Falk’s Harry Buscafusco) missing son – with complications ensuing after it’s revealed that Harry wasn’t entirely truthful about the situation. There’s little doubt that Vibes is at its best in its fun, easygoing opening half hour, as filmmaker Kwapis, working from Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel’s screenplay, does a superb job of establishing a lighthearted atmosphere that’s perpetuated and enhanced by the lead performances – with, especially, Goldblum turning in a typically idiosyncratic turn that remains an obvious highlight for the duration of the proceedings. (And it doesn’t hurt, certainly, that the supporting cast has been peppered with scene-stealers such as Steve Buscemi and Elizabeth Peña.) It’s disappointing to note, then, that Vibes takes a demonstrable turn for the worse once the action shifts to South America, as the picture, beyond that point, transforms into a progressively tedious comedic adventure with an almost total lack of forward momentum (ie the movie seems to be treading water for much of its midsection, ultimately). By the time the broad yet ineffective climax rolls around, Vibes has undoubtedly confirmed its place as a distressing misfire that squanders the palpable good will established by its entertaining, engaging first act.

** out of ****

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