A Journal for Jordan REVIEW: Bland romantic military drama from Denzel Washington | Films | Entertainment
In the double Oscar-winner’s adaptation of Dana Canedy’s memoir, hotshot New York Times reporter Dana (Chante Adams) is visiting her retired army officer dad when she locks eyes with a hunk clutching a picture frame in his living room. This is Sgt Charles Monroe King (Michael B Jordan), a dashing, God-fearing soldier who insists on calling her “Ma’am”. It turns out that when he’s not performing heroics on the battlefield, he’s visiting old folks or knocking out impressionist paintings.
He’s so perfect that I had him down as either a con artist or a serial killer. Sadly, this isn’t that kind of movie.
Instead of a cheesy melodrama or a pulpy thriller, Denzel serves up a languidly paced, fatally earnest, 130-minute romantic drama that extols the virtues of duty, sacrifice and unthinking patriotism.
Focussing on the journal the real Charles wrote for his unborn son while serving in the second Iraq War, he uses flashbacks to chart the wholesome couple’s relationship and flashforwards to show their teenage son discovering his dad’s journal.
While the flat lighting and one-dimensional characters make it feel like a made-for-TV movie, the flag-waving suggests it is aimed squarely at Americans.
A Journal for Jordan is in cinemas now
