The Grand Budapest Hotel - 3 1/2 smiles

“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” co-written and directed by Wes Anderson, is full of humor, heartbreak and a romantic look at the past. It’s also a rollicking caper that mixes theft, murder, a prison break and pastry into a rousing free-for-all. Set in a fictional European spa town between the world wars, with Nazis on the march and an elegant way of life fading, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” revolves around one character, Monsieur Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), the hotel concierge who believes that etiquette and order helps define civilization. Gustave’s morals are no match for his manners as he enjoys sexual congress with guests of both sexes and Fiennes is masterful, exuding verbal dexterity and comic nuance. The movie is a little slow getting started as Anderson frames his central story first with an older writer (Tom Wilkinson) in 1985, reminiscing back two decades to when he was young enough to be played by Jude Law. When Law sits down for supper with the mysterious Mr. Moustafa (F. Murray Abraham) to learn the story behind the Grand Budapest Hotel, the story jumps to 1932 and our fun begins.

Anderson surrounds Gustave with an extraordinary supporting cast. Newcomer Tony Revolori excels as Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy Gustave takes under his wing. The vain Gustave flirts with Agatha (Saoirse Ronan), Zero’s true love, who carries a facial birthmark shaped like Mexico. Agatha works at Mendl’s bakery, where her famed pastry, Courtesan au chocolat, helps thicken the plot. Tilda Swinton, covered in wrinkly latex, is Madame Celine Villenuve Desgoffe und Taxis, an 84-year-old dowager with a thing for Gustave. It’s the murder of Madame D and a stolen Renaissance painting that puts Gustave and Zero on the run from the authorities, led by a military officer (Edward Norton) and Dmitri (Adrien Brody), Madame D’s ruthless son, and his killer henchman, Hopling,  (Willem Dafoe). The film hits a peak of hilarity when Gustave escapes prison with the help of a tattooed Harvey Keitel. Other characters include Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman. “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is visually sumptuous, filled with quirky characters and thoroughly enjoyable. 3/9/14