With a true A-list cast, Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci” is easily one of the most anticipated films of the year. It stars Lady Gaga (Patrizia Reggiani), Adam Driver (Maurizio Gucci), Jared Leto (Paolo Gucci) and Al Pacino (Aldo Gucci) in the endlessly dramatic story of the Gucci fashion house. However, the star-filled cast is most of what the film has to offer.

The film tells the true story of the attractive and charming social climber Patrizia Reggiani as she chases after Maurizio Gucci, a wealthy fashionheir. It follows the infamous couple through their early romance, marriage, and even more turbulent split, which resulted in Reggiani hiring a hit man to kill her late husband, and the endless backstabbing within the Gucci family.

Gaga and Driver’s performances were excellent. They crafted a so-awkward-it’s-almost-adorable romance, truly demonstrating their deep off-screen chemistry. However, Gaga was the true star of the film. Although she was a fan-favorite in “American Horror Story”  and was even nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress as Ally in “A Star Is Born,” she still remained Lady Gaga on screen. However, she transformed in “House of Gucci.” Her portrayal of Reggiani was colorful and arrogant, bringing her story to screen without glorifying a murderer. 

While Gaga and Driver brought the film to life, the rest of the high-profile cast didn’t exactly do the same. Jared Leto’s performance as Paolo Gucci in particular was clearly played up as comedic relief, but his whimsical and halfwitted nature missed the mark. His faux Italian accent alone was straight out of a bad Saturday Night Live sketch. Al Pacino’s character was so-so, but he often came across as more of a New Jersey mob boss than the chairman of an elite fashion house. With an unnecessarily long two hours and 38 minutes runtime, it’s not unsurprising that “House of Gucci” was a bit dull.

“House of Gucci” isn’t completely unworth watching. Gaga and Driver’s performances are sure to earn them nominations for the 2022 Academy Awards, and the story itself is significant culturally. But if you’re looking for the exciting, and maybe a little campy, crime drama it was set up to be, this isn’t the place to find it.

Rating: 3/5 stars