View From The Top Review

View From The Top
Inspired by a motivational guru, trailer trash Donna becomes a flight attendant and hopes to rise through the ranks. But despite top marks, she just can’t get anywhere. Will romance be enough instead?

by William Thomas |
Published on
Release Date:

22 Aug 2003

Running Time:

87 minutes

Certificate:

PG

Original Title:

View From The Top

Gwyneth Paltrow as trailer trash: not convincing. Mike Myers as a boss-eyed airline staff trainer: not funny. Christina Applegate as a bitchy best friend: not original. But let's not rush to blame the actors too hastily for this mediocre effort.

The plot and characterisation are as skimpy as the omnipresent mini-skirts and, for a comedy, the script simply doesn't get off the runway. Supposedly hilarious scenarios are handled with all the panache and timing of a particularly poor 1970s sitcom.

The obsession with breasts (the cinematographer and costume designer apparently either in collusion or under orders here) may go some way to compensating male viewers for their time, and young women may find glimpses of pleasure in the early scenes of liberation. But its conclusion is so tepid, its journey so half-hearted and its look so uncommonly dated that this is unlikely to feel worth the ride.

Had it any style, character interest or wit, the superficiality of this little frippery wouldn’t matter so much. As it is, audiences might want to take flight themselves.

Related Articles

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us