Aloha (2015)
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A disillusioned former Air Force officer returns to Hawaii to oversee a controversial private satellite launch, only to find himself entangled in complex personal and ethical dilemmas.
The story
Military contractor Brian Gilcrest returns to Hawaii with billionaire Carson Welch, who intends to develop local land into a space center from which he will launch a privately-funded satellite. Once a celebrated Air Force officer whose career ended controversially amid shadowy dealings in Afghanistan, the now-disillusioned Gilcrest is tasked with negotiating with Native Hawaiian leaders for the project. His assignment reunites him with his ex-girlfriend Tracy, now married with two children, and introduces him to his Air Force liaison, Captain Allison Ng, whose idealistic optimism rekindles his childhood interest in space.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Brian Gilcrest, a military contractor with a controversial past in Afghanistan, is hired by billionaire Carson Welch to develop a space center in Hawaii for a private satellite launch. Gilcrest must negotiate with Native Hawaiian leaders, eventually securing support from King Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele in exchange for land rights and community benefits. During the process, Gilcrest reunites with his ex-girlfriend Tracy and her husband Woody, and forms a bond with Air Force pilot Captain Allison Ng. However, Gilcrest discovers the satellite will carry a secret nuclear payload, leading to a confrontation with Ng. Amidst personal turmoil—including the revelation that Tracy's daughter, Grace, is actually Gilcrest's biological child—Gilcrest learns of a cyberattack by Chinese hackers. He thwarts the attack but, realizing the ethical implications of his work, impulsively orders the satellite to explode. Following the destruction of the satellite, Gilcrest faces threats of prosecution but ultimately finds peace. He encourages Tracy to stay with Woody, confesses his love to Ng, and finally accepts his role as Grace's father.
- First release year
- 2015
- Runtime (minutes)
- 105
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Cameron Crowe
- Writers
- Cameron Crowe · writer
- Cast and characters
- Bradley Cooper · Brian Gilcrest; Emma Stone · Captain Allison Ng; Rachel McAdams · Tracy Woodside; Bill Murray · Carson Welch; John Krasinski · Major John "Woody" Woodside; Danny McBride · Colonel "Fingers" Lacy; Alec Baldwin · General Dixon
- Genres
- romantic comedy; romantic comedy-drama
- Themes
- Ethics of private space exploration; Family secrets; Cultural identity; Redemption
- Tone and mood
- Sentimental; Unbalanced; Loony
- Premise and plot tags
- Military Contractor; Space Exploration; Native Hawaiian Culture; Secret Nuclear Payload
- Content notes
- Whitewashing
- Reception
- The film was a critical and commercial failure, receiving mixed to negative reviews for being meandering and sentimental. It underperformed at the box office, grossing significantly less than its budget.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 20% · review count: 165; Metacritic · score: 40 · scale: 100 · review count: 36
- Awards and nominations
- Teen Choice Award · Choice Movie Actor: Comedy · Nomination; Teen Choice Award · Choice Movie Actress: Comedy · Nomination; Teen Choice Award · Choice Movie: Comedy · Nomination
- Production trivia
- Emma Stone was the first cast member, joining in 2012.; The film had previous working titles including 'Deep Tiki' and 'Volcano Romance'.; The character Allison Ng was based on a real-life, red-headed local.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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