Movie Review: Peninsula Nights

2024's Peninsula Nights is what My Dinner With Andre would have been if it was written by Woody Allen. A chance meeting on a street initiates an evening of quiet discussion between two strangers, as they wander through the streets of Carmel. She is an artist from Manhattan while he is an aspiring screenwriter who sells Carmel real estate to make ends meet. Fast forward a year, and the two run into each other in downtown Monterey, again at night, and resume their uncertain relationship. As the night progresses they are faced with a decision to pursue their relationship further or travel through life on the separate paths already laid out for them.

Peninsula Nights is 90% dialogue and 10% imagery. You could just listen to it and not miss a thing. But the movie benefits from the unique character of the two famous Monterey Peninsula communities, taking advantage of their historic charm and modern sophistication, as the setting for this story. And limiting the story to nighttime conceals, or at least gives the illusion of secrecy to, the developing relationship. 

There's lots of potential here, but it is marred somewhat by rigid and sometimes awkwardly delivered dialogue. I didn't feel any emotion behind their words. For a movie that depends on words alone to propel the story it felt a bit hollow. This could have been a 5-star movie if the actors had dug deeper and let their characters emotions flow freely.