Film: Girl on the Train

Moviegoers are flocking over Paula Hawkins’ widely successful novel “The Girl on the Train” reaching the box office this month, but not in a positive way.

The ending is confusing, and some people are even saying it’s a knock-off of “Gone Girl,” as one critic put it.

The story follows Rachel Watson (played by Emily Blunt), a drunken, sad divorcee who obsesses over what she sees as the perfect couple, Scott and Megan Hipwell. She fantasizes for hours over the mere glimpses she gets of them on her everyday train commute, and the couple just happens to live down the street where Rachel used to live with her ex-husband Tom Watson. Now Tom lives with his new wife and newborn baby in that same house.

One day Rachel, drunk, spies something that enrages her enough to get off the train; and when Megan Hipwell shows up missing the next day, neither the authorities – nor Rachel herself – can really trust Rachel’s story of what happened.

In the beginning of the movie, I’ll have to admit, I was reminded a little of “Gone Girl.” But as the story unfolded, it had a much different feel.

No matter if you found the film entertaining, dull, or confusing, there is no denying that Emily Blunt kills the part of a drunk, pathetic ex-wife. Through the drunken slurs and stumbles she perfectly portrays, her acting brought the whole story together.

There are also scenes – scenes that are found in most movie adaptations of books – where the narrator has to portray her feelings aloud instead of in her head. This is uncomfortable to watch at times, but we live with it to stick to the script.

Also, some of the interaction between characters you might only see in a soap opera, but it’s nevertheless entertaining.

The ending comes with a twist that leaves you guessing, but it isn’t disappointing.