Theory of Flight

Updated June 26, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

In theory, this movie should fly: Helena Bonham Carter gets paired with Kenneth Branagh in a drama about disease and emotional injury; love and sexuality; healing; living; and dying. But somehow it sinks. Branagh plays an unstable artist obsessed with flying machines. After a flight/suicide attempt he gets sentenced to take care of a young woman afflicted by Lou Gehrig's disease. Jane's (Bonham Carter) death wish is to lose her virginity before sickness overwhelms her. It's a promising setup, and the actors perform commendably. Unfortunately, lackluster direction accompanied by a lukewarm and manipulative script leaves this movie grounded.