Beatriz at Dinner – A Chesire Cat that uses her fangs.

Beatriz at Dinner highlights the extreme clash of values existing in America today.Beatriz, played by Selma Hayek is a massage therapist whose car breaks down resulting in her client inviting her to stay for dinner. The client’s guests that evening include a rich, arrogant real estate developer (John Lithgow). The cultural and financial divide between Beatriz and the rest of the dinner party shows itself immediately. Without much delay the moral and political divide grab the conversation. Lithgow is a right-on Trump surrogate and Beatriz wastes no time taking him on.

Unfortunately, Hayek’s role seems to be unable to determine its place. This results in a wanting for the viewer. Hayek thankfully does not overact and in fact compared to many of her other roles she is calm and content. She spends a significant amount of time as “the Chesire Cat” before finally pouncing at her gluttonous prey and placing all at the table in uncomfortable positions.

The film ending is confusing at best. Presenting two alternatives with neither making sense or pulling the film together. There is some deep psychological upheaval at play which remains unresolved.

Throughout the film and particularly as I walked out at the conclusion it seemed that something was missing. I was engrossed throughout but never fully pulled in. I had a personal dislike for the rest of the dinner party but could never really attach to or identify with Beatriz. Cinematography was decent with nothing spectacular, music was appropriate and direction uneven. Acting was generally good. In retrospect I think Hayek did a very good job of acting along with Lithgow and that the weakness I felt came from the script.