Chris Pine stars, directs and co-wrote Poolman, a sun-baked film noir that never quite finds its tone in spite of its best efforts, and feels like the love child of Chinatown and The Big Lewbowski. A pastiche of the eccentricities and lifestyles of LA, Pine populates his film with characters you could only find in the City of Angels.

Darren (Pine) is a poolman who follows a morning routine to keep his zen, writes a daily letter to his idol, Erin Brokovich, and crusades for better social programs, transit, trolleys and justice in LA. His nemesis on the city council played by Stephen Tobolowsky seems to bar his every attempt at civic improvements, and Darren is convinced the man is corrupt.

When a femme fatale in the form of June Del Rey (DeWanda Wise) shows up and wants him to investigate the city council, he finds himself enmeshed in a conspiracy that puts the well-intentioned but slightly scattered investigator through his paces.

With the help of his therapist (Annette Bening) her director husband (Danny DeVito) and his pilates instructor girlfriend (Jennifer Jason Leigh), he digs into a mystery that puts him more and more in mind of Chinatown.

But he won’t be ready for where it leads.

Featuring unique LA locations, a brilliant Golden Girls reference and some interesting ideas, the film has some wonderful moments, and some interesting banter, but never truly finds its balance. It’s obvious that Pine loves the genre, even his costumes riff on iconic looks from noir classics, and while we know noirs with a comedic bent, and eccentricities can work and work well, this one doesn’t quite reach the goal it achieves for itself.

While Pine rounds out the film with a great cast (which includes Ray Wise and Clancy Brown), solid production value, and his wry spin on classic LA noirs, the film never quite finds its feet but has some moments when it truly shines. That being said, Pine put the work in and while it wasn’t as much for me as I thought it would be, he’s made his directorial debut, and it’s solid work.

But don’t take my opinion of it, form your own. Poolman screens one more time at TIFF on Sunday 17 September at Scotiabank Theatre. You can find times, other films and events here.