STORYLINE: Wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists and determined assassins.  (IMDb)

  There I has always been an underlying quirkiness to Wes Anderson’s work. From films such as Moonrise Kingdom (2012) and my personal favorite of his The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) to more recent works of his such as The French Disbatch (2021) and the wildly entertaining Asteroid City (2023) that quirkiness has entertained and amused me for years.  Wes Anderson’s latest release The Phoenician Scheme is in that same style.

   While I enjoy the spectacle of a big budget sequel, The Phoenician Schene is the kind of summer blockbuster I have come to prefer over the past half decade or so.  It is an original story with a sprawling ensemble. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) set that standard for me.

   The Phoenician Scheme I found to be entertaining. Some of the best gags were repeated in favor of creating new ones. This is fine once or twice but by the end of the 105 minute film I grew tired of it.  Asteroid City (2023) repeated some of its jokes but spread them out and never to the extent of The Phoenician Scheme.

    I enjoyed the ensemble led by Benico Del Toro.  Micheal Cera and getting to discover Mia Threapleaton were the highlights of that ensemble. 

   This 2025 rekease entertained me, I liked it, but not as much as other recent Wes z Anderson films such as The French Disbatch and Asteroid City.

   Until next time I will see you at the movies!