Queen and Slim * * *

     Given some of the flattering reviews it has received I thought this film was pretty overrated. I also thought it was way too long.  For a story like this, ninety minutes would have been plenty.  The editing required to do that would have served it well.
      It's a road movie and also a bit of a Bonnie and Clyde story.  Except they are African Americans and they are very much an accidental Bonnie and Clyde.

Should have used the shorter route

     Queen and Slim connected on a dating app.  But over a meal in a casual diner they find themselves to be rather opposite in attitude and values.  Nevertheless he offers to drive her home. They are stopped by a truly disgusting, racist, trigger happy cop.  Resisting his aggression they accidentally kill him. 
    Queen works as an attorney and she advises the only solution is to run for it.
    Pretty soon they are famous.  They take refuge with relatives and sympathizers. And despite believing they are opposites, they soon find they have a lot in common.
       In some ways it's a good idea and I like the way it turns presumptions around on who might be a good person and who might be a betrayer.
     Something about this film irritated me though. At times they were a pastiche.  And on a logical level I could never get over the fact that she had a bullet in her leg and she was treating it like it was minor cut.  Truth  is, she wouldn't  be walking.  And she certainly wouldn't be able to sleep, jump out of windows and make love.  I didn't like the scene where they inserted a "black lives matter" rally just to make a point.  It almost felt like a commercial break rather than an integral part of the story.
     It's got some good ideas and noble intentions, but compared to the way The Hate U Give handled the same subject matter it  feels contrived and unnecessary.