“Feeling Minnesota” is one of those mid-budget movies that studios used to be pump out fairly regularly in the ’90s that feature A-list celebrities (in this case, Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz) playing unlikable characters going about their unsavory business for 100ish minutes, until the movie ends and the audience is left to wonder why they bothered watching the movie in the first place. It reminded me of 1993’s “Untamed Heart,” not so much for its content but for its purposelessness: From beginning to end, I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to like or care about any of the movie’s characters beyond the fact that they’re played by famous people… and although Reeves has had a surge of good will these last few years, this movie’s a great reminder that, as a leading man, he’s about as emotionally dexterous as an oak tree. Luckily, Reeves and Diaz at least have some chemistry, while Vincent D’Onofrio has a much better grasp of his character and delivers the movie’s stand-out performance, but it’s not enough to make the whole thing particularly palatable despite some solid moments here and there.
Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)