After the Sunset features spectacular locations and a likable cast, but sadly, it can't overcome a predictable screenplay. The film stars Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek as Max Burdett and Lola Cirillo, a couple of expert thieves (and lovers) who opt to retire at the top of their game. As they enjoy their new lives in the gorgeous Bahamas, they are approached by Stan Lloyd (Woody Harrelson), an FBI agent whom they completely humiliated in their glory days. He brings to their attention a cruise liner in the area that just so happens to be displaying the rare (and expensive) Napoleon Diamond. Before long, it seems that there are several interested parties on the island that will stop at nothing to get their hands on this invaluable jewel.

Firstly, lets talk about the stuff that works. Pierce Brosnan is fun taking a variation of his role in The Thomas Crown Affair and putting a light spin on it. Woody Harrelson (who doesn't appear to be taking-on many projects these days) is entertaining as the bumbling Lloyd . The most entertaining moments in the movie are the scenes that Brosnan and Harrelson share together. Their chemistry and comic timing is surprisingly effective, and I found myself smiling most of the time they were on screen. Salma Hayek is gorgeous and feisty to be sure, and while I welcomed her bubbly persona, she sort of takes a back seat in the movie. After The Sunset is more about Brosnan and Harrelson. Hayek spends most of the picture running around in skimpy clothes and dancing to salsa music. Not that I'm complaining mind you, but Hayek has proven to be quite the actress (see Frida), and in a way, she just seems to be wasted in this picture. I really liked Naomie Harris as Sophie, a tough as nails cop who becomes smitten with Lloyd. She's spunky and I found myself enjoying her moments with Harrelson, but unfortunately, their interesting little subplot is just sort of pushed aside so that the more boring and obvious elements of the plot can float to the surface.

That brings us to the biggest problem with After The Sunset. It's full of subplots and story threads that are either not fully realized or never should have been there in the first place. In particular, I didn't care for the stuff with Don Cheadle. He's an outstanding actor, but his hard-ass role in this picture is completely weak. I prefered his smooth Basher Tarr in Steven Soderbergh's superior Ocean's 11.

The likable, breezy nature of these characters can only tug the film along so far. For the first three quarters of the movie it manage to keep it moving, but the final quarter of the picture nearly induced nausea for me. Brosnan's speech to Hayek in the final act is disgustingly sappy, and the gimmicky plot twist that constitutes the last fifteen minutes of the picture nearly stops it dead in the water. This is a heist movie, and I understand that double crosses and twists come with the territory, but the alleged "surprise revelation" here felt fake and too gimmicky.

After The Sunset was directed by Brett Ratner who got his start by trying to re-ignite the buddy cop movie (see the Rush Hour series). Then he stunned Hollywood by landing Red Dragon, an entertaining movie, but hardly a classic (Michael Mann's Manhunter was far more effective). In the past couple of years he's tried to get Superman off the ground, before being replaced by, thankfully, Bryan Singer. So, Ratner opted to do this caper and to his credit (and his cinematographer), it's well shot. He also has enough good sense to let Brosnan and Harrelson have fun, and whenever they're on screen together, After the Sunset produces some serious charm. Unfortunately, much of what's leftover is about as pleasant as a Tequilla hangover.