The Grand Budapest Hotel is light, frothy escapism. The story is an unlikely but likeable tale involving the concierge, played by Ralph Fiennes, aided by the lobby boy, played by Tony Revolori.
It is crammed with famous actors in cameo roles. Jeff Goldblum, Tilda Swinton and Edward Norton are particularly memorable, but there are so many others that you could spend the whole movie saying “Oh look! Isn’t that…..”
The jokes are off-beat and sometimes off-colour. The script contains some nice aphorisms and some good one line jokes. The characters are a lovely mixture of smarmy and sharp.
The sets and set pieces are extraordinary and absorbing. It was nominated for 9 Academy awards and best set design was one of those it won. The costumes and the acting are wonderfully camp, it also won Oscars for best make-up and best costume design.
I didn’t find any great universal truths in “The Grand Budapest Hotel” but I smiled for the full hour and a half and that is definitely a recommendation.
The London Lark! 
I never got around to writing a review for this, which I kind of regret. I felt the same way as you, in as much as it kept me engaged enough while I was in its company, but the initial visual tricks lost their shine after a while. I’ve read reviews from critics who’ve been at pains to point out how irritating the heavy stylistic approach is, but I admired it on the whole, along with the dark sense of humour and fun performances. Arty, but entertainingly so.
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I started to enjoy it, laughed a couple of times and then got bored. When I got to the end I think I said “is that it?” Maybe it’s above me, but I kind of felt like I’d lost yet another hour and a half of my life due to overinflated reviews from people who mark up because it’s arty.
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I don’t think everyone who enjoyed it did so because it was arty, though I know what you mean. After the Oscar buzz and critic praise died down, I did note that many people were annoyed or bored by the over stylisation.
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This is one of my absolute favourite films! So funny and, like you say, a brilliant form of escapism. Great review x
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