Two of Hollywood’s hottest A-listers turn star-crossed lovers in this big budget European spy-thriller. Angelina Jolie plays ex-super-spy Elise Clifton-Ward, pursued by British agents after falling in love with the mysterious Alexander Pearce, and helping him embezzle billions of dollars stolen from a mobster. Elise receives a message from Pearce instructing her to board a train and sit with someone resembling himself – so as to throw off the agents following her (who are looking for him).  When Elise sits down opposite American tourist Frank Tupelo (Johnny Depp) a classic tale of mistaken identity begins to unfold.

The Tourist is a remake of the 2005 film Anthony Zimmer, directed by Jérôme Salle. Despite being helmed by German director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (He’s German – I didn’t believe it either) The Tourist has a very distinctly hollywood feel to it. The large budget, elaborate action sequences, and star-power-driven plot all play heavily into the film. But it may be a little too Hollywood-y for some.

The Tourist is plagued from the get-go with cliché. It’s a cookie-cutter plot that suffers immensely from a lack of originality or creative spark. At times, it tries its hand at being a comedy, but doesn’t commit to the humor enough to land many of its jokes. The result is a film that feels a little stale, and one that quickly induces boredom in the viewer.

Just about all the film has going for it is celebrity cast value – and with leads played by Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, it’s got this in spades. Jolie is as stunning as ever, and Depp oozes with quirky charisma. He’s toned it down from performances in Pirates of the Caribbean or Alice in Wonderland, but it’s still the same Johnny we all know and love. The chemistry between them is excellent, and both actors hold their own where a lesser person might simply have slackened their jaw and gawked.

The Tourist is a faulty piece of work, propelled by its star power. While it looks stunning, and pays homage to some of the most beautiful locations in Europe, it suffers from a predictable plot and a lack of enthusiasm from all parties involved. See it if you’re a fan of either lead, otherwise go ahead and sit this one out.