There are some superficial similarities to Bob Ross, the PBS painter with the “happy trees,” particularly the giant perm & the easy nature paintings. Even so, this is supposed to be its own story. Owen Wilson plays a popular painter who’s adored by his fans, but things go awry when a new, younger painter shows up. This is billed as a comedy, but even Wilson has muted his comic skills and nothing else is remotely funny. If the film is trying to be a moving portrait of a disillusioned man, there’s never one second of empathy. This is a failed attempt on all fronts. 
(1 / 5)
