Diablo Cody has carved out a niche for exploring the crises of young women. Whether it’s the sudden onset of pregnancy in “Juno,” midlife travails in “Young Adult” or high school horror in “Jennifer’s Body,” Cody brings her own unique perspective to these situations. And for her directorial debut “Paradise,” it’s faith that’s shaken and opens the eyes of its lead character.
Starring Julianne Hough, Octavia Spencer and Russell Brand, the first trailer for “Paradise” has arrived and if anything, it presents a movie that’s noticeably sweeter in tone than Cody’s previous efforts. It’s an interesting change of pace especially considering the premise—in which a religious young woman heads to Las Vegas to experience “worldly pleasures” after surviving a horrific accident—lends itself at taking some easy shots at the faith-driven. Perhaps that’s too obvious, but we’re not quite sure this nicer approach works either, with the lesson that the heathen world ain’t so bad after all being a fairly obvious conclusion. But perhaps it’s all about the journey to get there.
Anyway, you’ll get to see for yourself soon. “Paradise” premieres on DirecTV on August 8th, followed by a theatrical bow on October 18th. [Vlicious!]