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Aloha (2015 film)

2015 film by Cameron Crowe From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aloha (2015 film)
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Aloha is a 2015 American romantic comedy film written, co-produced and directed by Cameron Crowe. It stars Bradley Cooper as former US Air Force officer Brian Gilcrest, who returns to Hawaii after being rehired by a former boss to oversee the launch of a privatized weapons satellite in the skies over Hawaii. Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray, John Krasinski, Danny McBride, and Alec Baldwin star in supporting roles. As of 2025, it is the latest film directed by Crowe.

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Released on May 29, 2015, the film was a critical and commercial failure, grossing $26.3 million worldwide against a budget of $37 million.[5]

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Plot

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Military contractor Brian Gilcrest returns to Hawaii with billionaire entrepreneur Carson Welch, who plans to develop local land into a space center and launch a privately funded satellite. A once-celebrated Air Force officer whose career ended amid murky dealings in Afghanistan, Gilcrest must negotiate with Native Hawaiian leaders to secure the project. His assignment becomes personal when he reconnects with his ex-girlfriend Tracy—now married with two children—and meets his optimistic Air Force liaison, Captain Allison Ng, whose enthusiasm for space rekindles Gilcrest’s own passion.

Gilcrest and Ng visit King Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele, seeking his blessing for the new center. Ng, who is part Hawaiian, earns the king’s trust by sharing his spiritual connection to the land and sky. With her help, Gilcrest secures an agreement that grants control over two mountains and free cell service for the area. That night, they dine at Tracy’s home, where Gilcrest meets her husband, Woody, and their children, Grace and Mitchell. Alone in the kitchen, Tracy confesses she once imagined a future with Gilcrest before he abandoned her 13 years earlier.

At Carson’s Christmas party, Pacific Air Forces commander General Dixon warns Gilcrest not to jeopardize the deal, while a subordinate gives Gilcrest a thumb drive containing classified satellite launch data. Gilcrest and Ng grow closer, spending the night together as he shares his near-death experiences in Kabul. The next day, Ng learns that the satellite will secretly carry a nuclear payload. When she confronts Gilcrest, she is devastated to find that he already knew and feels betrayed—both personally and on behalf of the Hawaiians.

Meanwhile, Woody and Tracy address growing marital tensions, agreeing to separate. Tracy later tells Gilcrest that Grace is his biological daughter. At the blessing ceremony for the pedestrian gate, Gilcrest learns that Chinese hackers are attempting to sabotage the launch.

Gilcrest rushes to the command center and thwarts the cyberattack, but as he watches the satellite enter orbit, he realizes his complicity threatens Ng’s ideals. Acting on impulse, he initiates a sonic upload that destroys the satellite. He tells Ng they must end their relationship, fearing association with him will damage her career.

Carson, furious over the loss of his satellite, confronts Gilcrest, who reminds him that the sky belongs to everyone. Dixon, initially angry, later recognizes that Gilcrest was right about the satellite’s nuclear payload and promises Carson will face prosecution. Returning to Tracy’s home, Gilcrest encourages her to stay with Woody after reading a heartfelt letter from him. Woody, realizing Gilcrest is Grace’s father, asks if he rekindled his romance with Tracy; Gilcrest clarifies that he is in love with Ng. Tracy and Woody reconcile in an emotional embrace, joined by their children.

Outside the hotel, Gilcrest confesses his love to Ng, vowing to wait for her return to Hawaii. That night, he quietly watches Grace perform in her hula class. Recognizing him as her father, Grace runs outside, tearfully hugs him, and returns to dance as Gilcrest smiles, finally at peace.

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Cast

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Production

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Emma Stone was first to be cast in the film in 2012.[6]

On July 31, 2013, Alec Baldwin joined the cast of the film.[7] There was a casting call for extras on August 29 on Oahu.[8] Cooper went to Hawaii on September 14, twelve days before filming began.[9][10]

On October 7, it was announced that principal photography was still underway in Hawaii.[11] Stone received ground training on how to fly the Piper PA44-180 Seminole airplane from Rob Moore, Chief Instructor Pilot of Galvin Flight Services Hawaii, who later flew the airplane near Kaʻaʻawa Valley for the inflight shots. Moore acted as the aviation technical advisor. Cooper was filming in downtown Honolulu on December 18 and 19. On February 2, 2015, Sony Pictures stated that the film's final title would be Aloha;[12] the previous working titles were Deep Tiki and Volcano Romance.[13]

Music

The musical score for Aloha was composed by Jónsi & Alex,[14] following Jónsi's collaboration with Crowe on We Bought a Zoo (2011). Originally, Mark Mothersbaugh said in May 2014 that he was going to score the film.[15] A soundtrack album was released on May 26, 2015 by Madison Gate Records and Sony Legacy, which included tracks by Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Fleetwood Mac, David Crosby, Jonsi & Alex, Beck and Josh Ritter.[16]

Release

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On February 14, 2014, it was announced that the film was scheduled for release on December 25, 2014.[17] On July 21, the release date was changed to May 29, 2015.[18]

The film's first trailer was released on February 11, 2015.[19]

Box office

Aloha grossed $21.1 million in North America and $5.2 million in other territories for a total gross of $26.3 million, against a $37 million budget.[4]

In North America, Aloha opened simultaneously with the disaster film San Andreas. It earned $500,000 from Thursday night showings at 2,275 theaters[20] and an estimated $3.5 million on its opening day from 2,815 theaters.[21] In its opening weekend, the film grossed $9.7 million, finishing 6th at the box office.[22] The film earned $1.65 million in its opening weekend overseas from 7 countries. Australia and New Zealand had an opening weekend combined of $1.5 million[23] and Brazil opened with $240,000.[24] The film went directly to video on demand in the UK[25] and France.[26]

Pamela McClintock at The Hollywood Reporter estimated that the financial losses by the film finished to around $65 million by the time the film ended its global theatrical run, based on a budget of "$37 million-plus".[27]

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 20% based on reviews from 166 critics, with an average rating of 4.30/10. The critics' consensus reads: "Meandering and insubstantial, Aloha finds writer-director Cameron Crowe at his most sentimental and least compelling."[28] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 40 out of 100 based on 36 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[29] In CinemaScore polls conducted during the opening weekend, surveyed audiences gave Aloha an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.[30]

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wrote: "It gives me no pleasure to report that Aloha is still a mess, a handful of stories struggling for a unifying tone."[31] Andrew Barker of Variety called it Crowe's worst film, saying it was "unbalanced, unwieldy, and at times nearly unintelligible".[32]

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times recommended the film despite its flaws, "There ARE times when Aloha doesn't work — and yet I'm recommending it for its sometimes loony sense of wonder, its trippy spirituality, its brilliant cast and because I seem to be a sap for even the Cameron Crowe movies almost nobody else likes."[33]

Accolades

The film was nominated for three Teen Choice Awards: Bradley Cooper for Choice Movie Actor: Comedy; Emma Stone for Choice Movie Actress: Comedy; and the film itself in the category of Choice Movie: Comedy.[34]

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Whitewashing controversy

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The Media Action Network for Asian Americans accused the director and studio of whitewashing the cast, and Crowe apologized about Emma Stone being cast as a character who is stated to be of one-quarter Chinese and one-quarter Hawaiian descent.[35][36][37]

In June 2015, Crowe responded to the backlash: "I have heard your words and your disappointment, and I offer you a heart-felt apology to all who felt this was an odd or misguided casting choice. As far back as 2007, Captain Allison Ng was written to be a super-proud one-quarter Hawaiian who was frustrated that, by all outward appearances, she looked nothing like one. A half-Chinese father was meant to show the surprising mix of cultures often prevalent in Hawaii. Extremely proud of her unlikely heritage, she feels personally compelled to over-explain every chance she gets. The character was based on a real-life, red-headed local who did just that."[38][39]

Sony Pictures defended the film's portrayal of Hawaiian culture stating, "While some have been quick to judge a movie they haven't seen and a script they haven't read, the film "Aloha" respectfully showcases the spirit and culture of the Hawaiian people."[40]

Stone later said she regretted letting herself be inaccurately ethnically cast and acknowledged whitewashing as a widespread problem in Hollywood. Nevertheless, she echoed Crowe's defense of her casting: "The character was not supposed to look like her background which was a quarter Hawaiian and a quarter Chinese."[41][42][43]

During the opening monologue for the 2019 Golden Globe Awards, co-host Sandra Oh alluded to the issue of whitewashing in Hollywood by joking that Crazy Rich Asians (2018) was "the first studio film with an Asian-American lead since Ghost in the Shell and Aloha." This prompted Stone, who was in attendance, to shout "I'm sorry!" in reaction.[44]

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References

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