When I first read the plot synopsis for Wish You Were Here, it certainly sounded like a thriller. It isn't. It's more meditative, more methodical, and yeah, let's just say it, slower than I was expecting. But for me, Wish You Were Here is gripping in its finest moments and there are more than a few of them.
Joel Edgerton plays Dave, a man who, on a vacation in Cambodia, undergoes a radical transformation in the wake of tragedy. His wife, played magnificently by Felicity Price, is also rocked to the core, and their relationships, both with one another and their families, begin to deteriorate. Both of these main performances keep the film grounded and Palmer, who feels a bit like a fish out of water in this Australian film, does a great job matching stride.
Although it's a tad indulgent (maybe 10 minutes too long) and slow out of the gate, it's masterfully shot and edited and features one of my favorite opening sequences of recent memory. At times upsetting and tragic, Wish You Were Here is a beautiful, family-sized disaster film.
