Girl Reporter and the Robots of Tomorrow

I was thinking about Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004), as one does. This movie was the first (more or less) movie to be made entirely with green screen, with mostly CGI sets. It has an amazing 1930s graphic look, but was a massive bomb. Of course that didn't stop the industry from adopting those methods, now mote common than not. What I was wondering was, does the movie hold up.

It stars Gwyneth Paltrow as Polly Perkins, girl reporter, investigating the disappearance of scientists. In fact, one disappears from the Hindenberg after sending her a message. This leads her to a meeting at a Radio City showing of Wizard of Oz - generating another clue. Outside, she finds New York's skies filled with flying Max Fleischer style robots. Fortunately, Jude Law as Sky Captain shows up in his plane to save the day. 

Paltrow goes to Law later, and it turns out they had a fling that ended badly. But, at his secret base, she convinces him to work together to find out what's behind these attacks. Giovanni Ribisi, as Law's tech genius, is working on a way to disrupt the robots control signals, when the base is attacked. Law and Paltrow take off, and Ribisi is captured, but leaves a hint: Tibet.

So it's off to Tibet, where they get another clue to the bad guy's base. But they need mid-air refueling, so he calls on his friend Frankie. Frankie turns out to be Angelina Jolie, with a heli-carrier type flying airbase. She dresses in leather with an eyepatch, and had a thing with Law. 

When they reach the base, they find it guarded by Walt Disney (or Nikola Tesla?) looking hologram - played by the digital ghost of the late Laurence Olivier. Pay no attention to the man behind the hologram...

So here's my report: The movie looks great. It's full of references to old Superman cartoons, Art Deco, 1930s poster art, etc. The look is desaturated for the background and a little soft focus and blown out for the actors. Law is as charming as ever. Ribisi is very lovable as the brilliant sidekick. Jolie only has ten minutes or so on the screen, but really kicks the movie up a notch. Then there's Paltrow. She's trying for a Torchy Blaine hard-boiled scoop-hunter, and she looks the part, with her blonde do and red red lips. But she just seems annoying. She reminds me of Jennifer Aniston - whiny, vacant, self-obsessed (sorry to Friends fans). So as far as I'm concerned, the movie is perfect, except for her.

I don't know if she has this effect on most of the audience, though. Maybe she was some people's favorite. Maybe the whole 1930s thing just didn't resonate. Maybe the script could have been tighter, or quippier or something. But I may not watch this again just because I can't take Gwyneht Paltrow.