Annette Bening appears in a scene from "The Seagull."

If “The Seagull” proves one thing it is that adapting Anton Chekov is really hard. Despite a completely loaded cast, this latest adaptation of the beloved Russian writer is a never quite soars. Instead it feels like something that seemed like a good idea on paper, but the result is more dinner theater than feature film.

“The Seagull” is set in early 1900s with aging actress Irina (Annette Bening) bringing her younger lover, a novelist named Boris Trigorin (Cory Stoll), with her on a summer visit to her brother (Brian Dennehy) at his lavish estate.

The estate is filled with other visitors as well – including Irina’s son and aspiring playwright Konstantin (Billy Howle), who is in love with the neighbor’s daughter Nina (Saoirse Ronan) and the very cynical Masha (Elizabeth Moss).

As Konstantin struggles with his ambitions, both professionally and romantically, Nina takes an interest in Boris – much to the chagrin of Irina.

If “The Seagull” sounds like it would make a much better play than a film then you would be correct.

The themes about art and criticism that Chekov wrote about when he conceived the play in 1896 still resonate today, but director Michael Mayer can’t seem to make this more than a very special edition of PBS’s Masterpiece Theater with a cast that tries very hard but can’t do much with Stephen Karam’s screenplay.

It’s hard to imagine a film being dull when you have talent like Ronan and Bening and Moss in front of the camera, but that winds up being the case with “The Seagull.” It just doesn’t have the cinematic flair that plays in the 21st century.

Perhaps someday someone will be able to adapt Chekov to a modern day audience. “The Seagull” tries hard, but ultimately misses the mark.

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Annette Bening

Directed by: Michael Mayer

Rating: PG-13 for some mature thematic elements, a scene of violence, drug use, and partial nudity

Playing at: Regal Green Hills Stadium 16 in Nashville

Grade: C