Beatriz at Dinner * * 1/2

A toast! A toast! to.........?????? 

I’m not sure if this has something really important to say and is incapable of saying it; or if it has nothing to say and is saying it quite well. As we know, there are some people who are good at saying nothing (What?....what are you looking at me like that for?)

I think Beatriz (Selma Hayek) is supposed to win our hearts, but I found her a weak and irritating little character.  Not that I had any respect for her bombastic adversary (John Lithgow).

Beatriz has dogs by the dozen and even goats in the house. She is one of those people who seems to think her massages will do more to cure a cancer patient than all the advantages of modern medicine.

As a masseur, one of her clients is a wealthy lady, married to a successful property investor. One afternoon, after massaging her client, Beatriz’s car won’t start., so she is invited to stay for dinner.

Among the guests is a hugely successful property and hotel developer (think Trump) who Beatriz inevitably crosses swords with.  Both give hint of a reasonable argument for their choice of lifestyle, but neither properly explore it.  It’s just all class snobbery and moral aloofness.

The ending is quite in keeping with the film. It looks like it’s saying something really important, but actually not saying much at all.