If you’re not a Wes Anderson fan, then this strange comedy may be tough to tackle. But if you’re open to the fanciful world of Anderson’s movies, then The Grand Budapest Hotel is the penultimate culmination of his quirky, zany and poignant filmography

The movie opens on a nameless little girl with a memoir in her hand as she approaches the monument for book’s author. She takes a seat to brace herself, much like the audience should at this point, and delves into the first chapter of the author’s trip to The Grand Budapest Hotel.

“Wait. What?” I heard one audience member say in curious confusion. All within the first 15 minutes of the film, at least 10 important characters have bombarded the screen, and the time this film takes place in has changed thrice. Anderson lovers at one point or another have all gotten lost when watching one of his movies. What could possibly be the point of these disjointed characters and frankly awkward humor?  What can be discerned is that this movie follows the life of the Grand Budapest Hotel’s snarky hotel concierge M. Gustave through his love affairs with older women and the eventual trouble he gets into because of his shenanigans

You won’t find Anderson’s unique directorial touch in your typical comedy. He likes to juxtapose meticulous camera work with his peculiar sense of humor, a trait that is undeniably Anderson. Like a “things-organized-neatly” photo album, every scene and every frame is particularly shot to a T. Viewing Anderson’s movies through his right angles and fixed camera movements brings the audience into his strange, orderly yet magical world.

Be wary of how seemingly objective The Grand Budapest Hotel relays its plot because in one fell swoop, your emotions will flare and the movie will move on without you. The abrupt finale sees each flashback collapsing on top of each other without remorse. But that’s the beauty of a Wes Anderson film: it challenges you to appreciate your time with his characters before it’s too late. In a broader sense, his films rally behind the idea that happiness and the continuity of life can coexist. Remember the curious teenage girl from the beginning of the film? Back in the present, she carries on reading.