BAGGAGE CLAIM
US, 2013, 96 minutes, Colour.
Paula Patton, Derek Luke, Taye Diggs, Jill Scott, Djimon Hounsou, Adam Brody, Jenifer Lewis, Ned Beatty.
Directed by David E.Talbert.
Baggage Claim is a slight, very slight, romantic comedy. Paula Patton plays Montana, an older sister who wants to get married, be a lady, have children and be a woman. She has discovered this from her mother who has gone through five husbands. Her younger sister is getting married and she is going to be a bridesmaid again.
She is a flight attendant and has two friends, Gail, Jill Scott, and Sam, Adam Brody. They plot and scheme so that she will be on flights with men who have interested her in the past. One of these is played by Taye Diggs, a controller who is running for Congress. Another is a wealthy man played by djimon Hounsou who is not in favour of marriage but wants to install Montana as his companion and manager of hotels. At her sister’s reception, she announces that she is not accepting proposals, and challenges her sister and her fiance whether they really love each other – and they realise that they have been influenced by their mother.
And, all the while, there was William, her closest friend from high school, her confidante – and finally each realises that they love each other.
The film was directed by David E.Talbert, screenwriter, novelist and director.
1. Slight romantic comedy? American-style? African American focus?
2. American cities, landscapes, significant images? Flights all over America?
3. Montana, because I has of her mother’s five weddings, her story, older sister, her sister’s wedding and preparations, always a bridesmaid or maid of honour? Her relationship with her mother? Demanding? Her relationship with William, from school, the neighbour, good friends, talking and confiding, trust? Trying on the gown and William been persuaded to put on the tuxedo?
4. Montana as a flight attendant, the various flights, passengers, duties? Gail and her sexy style, gossip, matchmaking? Sam, flight attendant, gossip, gay? The connections at terminals for getting information about passengers? Their arranging for past contacts to be given to Montana, her busy schedule, the flights?
5. Graham, the invitation for Thanksgiving, the glamour, the hotel, Gail urging Montana to visit his house, the discovery of his pregnant wife?
6. Various men on the planes, talk, discussions?
7. Langston, charm, running for Congress, accompanying him to dinner, the clothes, the financial backer and his wife, the dinner, Langston in control, of her ordering a drink, Montana making the joke, getting more money for the campaign? Langston, back home, wanting to be in control, Montana and her reaction? His later coming to propose at her sister’s dinner, and her mother’s eagerness, her turning him down?
8. Her talk with her mother and her mother’s frankness? Challenging her sister about whether she really wanted to marry – and the couple feeling freer and not going ahead with the wedding?
9. Quinton, the meetings, his owning the hotel, wining and dining, his proposition, no marriage? His coming to the apartment, giving back the jewellery, turning him down?
10. The discussions with William, his girlfriend, her control of him, Montana seeing her on the plane with another man, phoning him, her control, leaving William?
11. The dinner, her speech, William thinking she was going to accept the proposal, his leaving, her gift, the ticket, with Gail and Sam, realising the truth, hurrying to the airport, the happy ending?
