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For better or worse, “The Girl on the Train” will undoubtedly be the subject of constant comparison. Audiences and critics alike will weigh this film up against 2014’s “Gone Girl”, another thrilling murder mystery adaptation. Fans will also compare the movie to Paula Hawkins’ bestselling book, which sold millions of copies in 34 countries around the world, and was quickly snapped up to be adapted for the big screen. The book was nothing short of a hit.
Emily Blunt stars in the film adaptation as Rachel, a divorced alcoholic who is fascinated with a seemingly perfect couple she sees from the train each day on her commute. The couple also happen to live two doors up from Rachel’s ex-husband Tom and his new family.
One morning Rachel sees something shocking from the window of the train, and when she learns that the woman she sees everyday has gone missing, Rachel decides to take the investigation into her own hands.
Haley Bennet, Rebecca Ferguson, Justin Theroux and Luke Evans also star in the film which has a great supporting cast including Allison Janney, Edgar Ramírez, Laura Prepon and Lisa Kudrow.
However the real standout here is Blunt. Her performance as the dejected heroine is believable and compelling. She spends almost the entire film playing Rachel as a drunk, and not once does it come across as tacky or forced.
While the film is no masterpiece, the story moves along at a brisk enough pace and, while at times it feels more like a soap opera for the big screen, the action and drama should keep audiences intrigued.
If I buy into the “Gone Girl” comparison for a moment, then no, “The Girl on the Train” doesn’t quite match the thrills and twists of the 2014 movie. However it should have enough sex, violence and scandal to keep most audiences satisfied for a couple of hours.
