Movie Review: "Grand Budapest Hotel"

This “off mainstream” situational comedy revolves around the adventures of Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes) and his “Lobby Boy In Training” Zero Mustaffa at world famous Grand Budapest Hotel in a mythical country in the European Alps between the world wars. The tale is narrated by a now aged Mustaffa, wonderfully portrayed by F. Murray Abraham. Gustave H inherits a priceless fortune from one of his patrons. The bulk of the movie involves the patron’s family attempted to steal Gustav H’s inheritance. The all star cast also includes Bill Murray, Harvey Keitel, Ed Norton, Jeff Goldblum, Adrien Brody and a wonderfully villainous Willem Dafoe. The cinematography is bright, stark and bears a great deal of resemblance- in both filming and plot- to “Moonrise Kingdom.” This film was moderately funny, but kept my attention. Were it not for the unnecessary vulgarities, it would have earned a PG-13 rating.