Serena

Danish director Susanne Bier's adaptation of Ron Rash's pulpy novel seems to have been aiming for a star-laden 1940s-style romantic tragedy, but the result is a major misfire (which sat on the shelf for nearly three years before being released). Set during the early years of the Great Depression, the story centers on George Pemberton (Bradley Cooper), who runs a lumber business in North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountains. Although his partner frets over financial setbacks, as well as an effort spearheaded by the local sheriff to have the region declared a national park, George fritters much of his time away hunting panthers with a mystical mountain-man as his guide. George also impulsively weds Serena (Jennifer Lawrence), the ravishing blonde survivor of a Colorado logging disaster, but their marriage proves a troubled match as Serena becomes unhinged over George's relationship with his former mistress, who gives birth to George's son while Serena's pregnancy results in a miscarriage. After moseying along at a funereal pace for an hour, the film suddenly lurches into violent melodrama, as Serena plans to take vengeance against the other woman and her child. Lawrence and Cooper fail to recapture the spark they exhibited in Silver Linings Playbook in this inert, stodgy, and unconvincing effort. Not recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “making-of” featurette (19 min.), deleted scenes (19 min.), the production segments “Exploring the Production Design & Time Period” (10 min.), “Following the Screenwriting: Comparing the Film & the Novel” (5 min.), and “Breaking Down the Set: Kingsport Tanners, Train Station & Main Street” (5 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing film.] (F. Swietek)