Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Too much of everything

Simply Perfect

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This movie has some redeeming moments, but overall is just so-so. Seems ACTED. Not natural or all that convincing. The film goes in a lot of directions, but not one single direction. And didn't I see Johnny Depp be this character before in Fear and Loathing? Now that was a good movie. This one isn't. I saw this movie on a cold rainy day while visiting Montreal. I remember the seats at that theater being wildly uncomfortable and the only thing that kept me from walking out of this film was the fact that it was crappy outside and this movie was the best choice of the bunch. Overall, I think both me and this movie both wanted to find a more comfortable theater and go watch something else.

Haven't seen this movie for a while but pulled out my DVD and watched it tonight. What a great film. It is what I like - a film based on story and character, not special effects. It's a crazy drunk fueled journey with a lot of crazy alcohol fueled people. What a story. It's got a protagonist, an sultry blond, crazy support characters, and a real plot and a story in a cool setting. Johnny Depp rules as a quasi alcoholic reporter who hangs out with another crazy alcoholic (Michael Rispoli) and the notorious Moberg. (Giovanni Ribisi). It's fun, it's crazy. You can't make this stuff up. The supporting cast is beautiful all around including Richard Jenkins as the over the top editor (Lotterman). Throw in a bunch of crazy Puerto Ricans and you've got a lot of great character. Some of the scenes are absolutely hilarious. "What are you doing? "I just realized how much I like you?" "What" "What am I doing? Are you kidding? There's something wrong with the axle.!" Great film. Laughed my head off for most of it. Johnny Depp really brings this character to life supported by a really class group of supporting actors. Five stars in my book!!!!!

10 years Prior to this Johnny Depp was one of my favourite actors. Then came the character of Captain Jack Sparrow, and with it came endless sequels every couple of years, and (aside from a few roles like "Finding Neverland" and "Sweeney Todd") uninspired performances in average movies (The Tourist) Now he probably doesn't even rank in my Top 10. Based on the novel of the same name by Hunter S. Thompson, I was hoping this would be a return to form. "The Rum Diary" started off well with Dean Martin crooning "Volare" over the opening credits. But whilst not quite a return to form, it has some good moments and Depp's heart is clearly in the right place, in what is clearly a passionate project for him, based on his close friends work. But I think Hollywood got in the way of him making a great movie. Michael Rispoli, Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribsi, Amber Heard and all give good solid support to Depp, but my main problem comes from the direction, which is uninspiring despite great source material.

The film has its faults but I can't help feeling the previous reviewer has missed the point slightly. This is one of those journalistic backwaters where sweet FA happens and the focus of interest is actually in being and living there, nothing else. Like so many expats that choose obscurity over fame, remoteness over being at the heart of the action, the paps in this film revel in doing as little as possible, dawdling from day to day like snails playing a board game on a wall calendar, and generally hoovering up as much booze, sun and sex as possible. I've met expats like this, and they're probably a dying breed by now, most of them having become extinct by virtue of their cirrhotic lifestyle and bacheloresque failure to procreate. That said, this movie is a kind of snapshot, frozen in time to a particular era, like any road movie in fact - only this one ain't going nowhere, nor is it meant to. There are some great lines in it too, but what else would you expect from a film based on Hunter S. Thompson, surely? I've only seen the film once but definitely plan a reunion sooner rather than later.