Chris Pine's "Poolman": High hopes dashed by harsh critiques

"Poolman" was expected to hit American cinemas at the end of last year. However, following the Toronto festival, critics handed down such harsh judgments that no one considered it viable for a big-screen release anymore. The brain behind the film, Hollywood star Chris Pine, shared his feelings upon encountering the initial reviews.

"Poolman" marked the directorial debut for Chris Pine, a well-regarded actor known from blockbusters like the "Star Trek" film series, "Wonder Woman", and more recently, "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves". Pine aimed to create a film reminiscent of Roman Polanski's "Chinatown" but with a comedic twist. He penned the screenplay, gathered the necessary funding, and took on roles in front of and behind the camera. History has shown that such personal endeavours by Hollywood luminaries often end in a remarkable debacle. Such was the case with Chris Pine.

In his film, Pine managed to cast Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Ray Wise. "A stellar cast, yet left with nothing substantial to perform. The movie is bogged down by weak jokes, and lengthy, monotonous dialogues that meander aimlessly," noted a critic from "Variety".

"Poolman" unfolds the story of Darren (Chris Pine, sporting a beard), an LA native who professionally maintains a pool at an apartment complex. Concurrently, he endeavours to improve his city. This quest brings him into conflict with a crooked politician and greedy property developers.

"The Toronto screening was catastrophic. Reading the critiques, I felt I could perish from embarrassment. The criticism left me utterly devastated. I wanted to disappear. I questioned myself... Perhaps I had botched it... Perhaps I had created a disaster... I revisited the film. That's when I realized I adore it. I truly cherish this film and am prepared to defend it," explained Pine on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast.

As an actor, confrontation with criticism can prompt a swift retreat. You arrive on set, execute your role, and depart, and well before the film's release, you're already engaged in numerous new projects. Directing, however, binds you inseparably to your work - Chris Pine concluded.