I don’t understand why the title of this film is Boarding Gate, even though writer/director Olivier Assayas says, “I chose this term as a title to evoke the idea of a passage between two worlds.”

If we were to continue with the air travel theme, I’d have to say that this film, as a cinematic journey, ends at the boarding gate. It never takes off.

It looks good, but it just sits out on the tarmac with engines buzzing, turbines whirring and lights flashing. You might notice it out there, possibly even in the rain (for dramatic effect), but it’s someone else’s flight. You just don’t care where it’s going.

Billed as an exciting adventure, a thriller in fact, it’s actually tediously slow. The plot is filled with an abundance of unnecessary characters, like too many economy passengers crammed into coach.

You don’t want to get to know any of them. You only endure them as a temporary annoyance.

Perhaps this film should be called Layover.

Grade: D

Boarding Gate releases in select theaters March 28.