The producers of "Complete Unknown" may have envisaged a profound existential drama about human identity. But unwittingly, the film lapses into comedy with the preposterous character played by Rachel Weisz.
It is difficult to associate the main character with a single name because she is constantly changing it. She was originally known to Tom as "Jennie" (or Jennifer). But suddenly, she left home, leaving her parents in a state of shock that eventually led to the death of her father.
While in Mexico, Jennie became "Consuela." She went to China and became a magician's assistant named "Mae." In South Africa, she became "Vanessa." Later, she became "Sasha." She was "Constance," who traveled along the Amazon in the rain forest with a group of botanists. She was "Paige," who worked in a hospital in anesthesia. She traveled to Tasmania where she became "Alice." Now, she returns to "surprise" her old friend Tom on his birthday.
With the exception of Tom's wife Ramina, a talented jeweler with a promising future, the other characters in this film are not only weird, but are downright repellent. The oddest moment is when Tom leaves the bar with Alice without saying a word to Ramina. He then slavishly follows Alice around, playing along with making up false identities as doctors to assist an elderly woman who has sprained her ankle. He then asks to see her research area where the frogs croak, but he is not really interested in frogs. He wants only to see if Alice is even telling the truth.
The film offers no clues as to how Alice could change her name on passports and drivers' licenses with so many different names. Alice is clearly a nut, and this is where the scenes and lines of dialogue often turn into comedy.
In one defining moment in the film's prologue, Alice has returned to her family's home and waits for her mother to leave. There is nothing to suggest that she even wants to make contact with her mom. To put it mildly, Alice needs help. And so do audiences who have to suffer through her neurosis and so many name changes for an hour and a half.
It is difficult to associate the main character with a single name because she is constantly changing it. She was originally known to Tom as "Jennie" (or Jennifer). But suddenly, she left home, leaving her parents in a state of shock that eventually led to the death of her father.
While in Mexico, Jennie became "Consuela." She went to China and became a magician's assistant named "Mae." In South Africa, she became "Vanessa." Later, she became "Sasha." She was "Constance," who traveled along the Amazon in the rain forest with a group of botanists. She was "Paige," who worked in a hospital in anesthesia. She traveled to Tasmania where she became "Alice." Now, she returns to "surprise" her old friend Tom on his birthday.
With the exception of Tom's wife Ramina, a talented jeweler with a promising future, the other characters in this film are not only weird, but are downright repellent. The oddest moment is when Tom leaves the bar with Alice without saying a word to Ramina. He then slavishly follows Alice around, playing along with making up false identities as doctors to assist an elderly woman who has sprained her ankle. He then asks to see her research area where the frogs croak, but he is not really interested in frogs. He wants only to see if Alice is even telling the truth.
The film offers no clues as to how Alice could change her name on passports and drivers' licenses with so many different names. Alice is clearly a nut, and this is where the scenes and lines of dialogue often turn into comedy.
In one defining moment in the film's prologue, Alice has returned to her family's home and waits for her mother to leave. There is nothing to suggest that she even wants to make contact with her mom. To put it mildly, Alice needs help. And so do audiences who have to suffer through her neurosis and so many name changes for an hour and a half.