You never really know how much you need to see Ralph Fiennes dancing until it’s happening in front of your eyes. His boogie by an Italian poolside is typical of the joie de vivre and impish flirtation that makes much of A Bigger Splash such a delight.

The dynamic between Fiennes, Swinton, Schoenaerts and Johnson is superb, and their love triangles suggest that although opposites attract less than kindred spirits, they’re much better for each other.

A late twist is easily the most dramatic thing on offer, but it feels inappropriate for a conflict that is more teasing than fiery.

Despite its many fun moments and good direction from Guadagnino, A Bigger Splash is too uneven and lightweight to truly impress.

RATING: 3/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Dakota Johnson

DIRECTOR: Luca Guadagnino

WRITER: David Kajganich

SYNOPSIS: A rock star (Swinton) and her filmmaker partner (Schoenaerts) retreat to an Italian island where their peace is disrupted by a wild, old flame (Fiennes).