Chris Pine is one of our best currently working actors, a performer who understands his assignments, capable of adding sincerity to both ridiculous genre roles like Edgin the Bard in the “Dungeons and Dragons” movie or Steve Trevor in “Wonder Woman,” while also delivering gripping dramatic performances in films like “Hell or High Water.” Now, he’s adding director to his set of skills with his feature directorial debut, “Poolman,” a neo-noir comedy about a pool cleaner uncovering a vast conspiracy.Unfortunately, the film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, bellyflops almost as soon as it starts.
The mystery is a convoluted mess, clearly attempting to marry the intrigue of “Chinatown” with the escalating chaos of a Coen Brothers movie while failing to make things compelling, all while the wacky humor falls flat.
This is a movie with a great cast of comedic talent, including Danny DeVito and Stephen Tobolowsky,…
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