Wes Anderson’s latest film, The Phoenician Scheme, is an enjoyable yet familiar comedy that fails to live up to its director’s usual standards. The story follows notorious plutocrat-entrepreneur Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benicio Del Toro) as he attempts to dominate a fictional Middle Eastern nation through a series of exploitative business ventures. However, his plan is threatened by the US government and his own family members, leading to a series of comedic misadventures.
The film features a talented cast, including Mia Threapleton as Zsa-Zsa’s daughter Liesl, who becomes embroiled in her father’s schemes. Despite its promising premise, the movie suffers from less visual detail and inspiration than Anderson’s earlier works, and some actors’ cameos feel phoned-in.
The film’s tone is generally amiable, but it lacks the romantic extravagance and childlike loneliness that have been hallmarks of Anderson’s best films. The result is a movie that is entertaining but ultimately forgettable.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/18/the-phoenician-scheme-review-mia-threapleton-shines-in-wes-andersons-muted-new-confection