What screen ‘chemistry’ is all about

THOMPSON AND BROSNAN. Perfectly attuned to each other’s inputs and idiosyncracies.

We often hear movie actors talk about the importance of “screen chemistry” in their work, but real proof of that rare phenomenon is hard to come by, so viewers aren’t all that clear about what it actually requires and entails.

Happily, a good example of screen chemistry is currently available on local movie screens, in theaters showing the rom-com, “The Love Punch,” starring Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson.

Watch the movie and get a detailed view of how the much-longed-for and talked-about artistic and “chemical” byplay between actors can really transform a film, and take it to the next level.

Financial takeover

Pierce and Emma play divorced spouses who are forced back into each other’s lives—and arms—when a big, stinking financial takeover suddenly robs them and other people of their pensions.

Refusing to settle for a life of penury, they decide to teach their cold-blooded and heartless usurper a lesson he won’t forget!

With the help of two of their friends, they crash the usurper’s wedding to a top beauty, whom he’s gifted with a shockingly huge diamond pendant worth many millions of dollars.

The movie’s plot premise is particularly apt for Brosnan, due to his having played James Bond years ago. As for Thompson, she proves to be a surprisingly fast study, fitting into the production’s action-comedy with feistiness and flashy flair.

Thematic references

Truth to tell, the leads’ exploits sometimes come off as too far-fetched to be believed, but they’re such good actors that they convincingly get into the spirit of things, and give the plot’s “Pink Panther” permutations and thematic references their very best shot.

It’s also impressive how well the two stars “build” their series of scenes together, never succumbing to the lure of attention-calling “solo” acting, and always performing in tandem, perfectly attuned to each other’s inputs and idiosyncracies.

So, this is screen chemistry—perhaps not in the romantic and passionate sense of the term, since both stars are no spring chickens or cockerels. As they vivify it in this movie, thespic chemistry springs from stars’ shared delight in the project at hand, and in the great pleasure of being able to perform together.

Inventiveness

Clearly, Emma finds Pierce’s mature good looks a turn-on, while he’s utterly bowled over by her ability to make “standard” scenes special by imbuing them with inventiveness, emotional commitment and relish.

Emma is at her funniest when she tries to sex it up by transforming herself into a seductive redhead, while Pierce’s witty way of “selling” his dialogue and punchlines is just too droll.

As a film, “The Love Punch” is no big deal, but its leads’ “chemical” and combustible portrayals rescue it from predictability and mediocrity, and enables it to hit viewers with a sweet, knockout punch!