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        This is one of those films I had absolutely no desire to see whatsoever. When it was released in theaters in October 2014 a friend of mine went to see it. She asked if I’d seen it yet, and when I said no she was shocked. She then went on and on about how great a book it was and how the film was even a little bit better than the book. She insisted that I see it ASAP but, knowing that we have such different taste in movies, I told her I would and then shrugged it off. I didn’t give it any more thought than that until recently when it showed up on HBO. I decided then that it was free (or at least I’d already paid for it) so I might as well sit down and watch it finally to see what all of the fuss was about.
 
        Gone Girl is the story of Nick and Amy Dunne. With their fifth anniversary fast approaching Nick arrives home to find the house in a state of disarray and Amy missing. Nick promptly calls the police to notify them that Amy is gone. But as the police begin to investigate Amy’s disappearance, a media circus ensues, bringing to light things that implicate Nick as a suspect. Maybe their marriage wasn’t as perfect as everyone thought, but does that really mean Nick had anything to do with it?
 
        This movie received such high praise from my friends, other critics and awards committees that I thought my misgivings about it would turn out to be unfounded. Not that I had very high hopes when I did finally sit down to watch it, but there was a tiny glimmer in the back of my mind that said “Of course this movie is good! Look at all of the praise it’s received! Now just sit back and wait to be surprised.” Well, I waited and waited and waited to be surprised. I waited for the entire 149 minutes of Gone Girl, only to be massively disappointed yet again.
 
        I’m not sure if it’s because I’m so cynical, or just that people have gotten a bit too used to being entertained by pure garbage, but I certainly don’t feel that Gone Girl deserved most of the praise and accolades it received. There were so many things wrong with this movie that I hardly know where to begin. First, the plot itself is deceptively simple, but presented in such a way as to make it seem far more complex than it is. Second, there was no need for this movie to be 149 minutes. Two and a half hours is a lot of time to sit through when you don’t enjoy what you’re watching and there’s plenty that could’ve been cut to keep the time reasonable! Third, it was painful to see how many dots were left unconnected by the characters. I could go on and on, but I’m sure you catch my drift.
 
        Long story short: perhaps the book IS really good and worth reading; I’m not sure, having never read it. Given what the movie was like, I’m certainly not going to rush to a store to buy it.
 
        I guess I’ll put it this way: if you’re looking for something to barely pay attention to as background noise as you entertain some guests, put on Gone Girl. If you’re looking for something truly thrilling, suspenseful and engaging, don’t bother!

Gone Girl is rated R, was directed by David Fincher and stars Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Tyler Perry and Neil Patrick Harris. It’s out now on Blu Ray, DVD and digital download.