AROUND THE BEND
---------------
When his grandfather Henry's (Michael Caine, "The Statement") health goes
into decline, Jason Lair (Josh Lucas, "Secondhand Lions," "Hulk") tries to
contact his estranged father. Four years later, Turner (Christopher
Walken, "The Stepford Wives") appears and Henry can finally rest. With
greatgrandson Zach (Jonah Bobo) in tow, Henry goes to his favorite
restaurant, Kentucky Fried Chicken, to compose a journey to heal the wounds
between his son and grandson in "Around the Bend."
Disguising blatant product placement as indie film financing by hiding it
in plain sight is only one of the sins committed by first time
writer/director Jordan Roberts. From eccentric old codgers (Caine, too
soon after a similar role in "Secondhand Lions") to undisclosed fatal
illnesses, Roberts pulls at the heartstrings in the most cliched and
commercial ways.
Archaeologist Henry studies funeral rituals in order to arrive at the right
one for himself, then shuffles off this mortal coil, leaving his remains
slumped in a booth at a KFC with a six-year old and a series of brown bags
each holding post-it instructions. Jason, a dull bank clerk who has
indulged grandpa all these years, dismisses his last wishes, but Turner,
who has denied his dad for years, insists on following them. Three
generations set off in a run down old van, visiting places meaningful to
the Lair men's past, all of which are conveniently sited near a KFC
(chicken eating is part of Henry's ritual for his heirs).
Quirkiness abounds. Henry's Danish live-in nurse, Katrina (Glenne Headly,
"Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen," in the most embarrassing
performance of her career) watches gore exploitation films to relax. The
boys begin their trip at their mother/grandmother's grave, leaving behind a
turkey with extra mayo in a Glad sandwich bag. Turner saves a border
collie from an abusive rancher (although the dog disappears for an extended
period before reappearing at film's end). Zach connects with his granddad,
joyously dancing in the glow of headlights.
It won't be any surprise where all of this is headed and, while telling
this story may have been cathartic for the filmmaker, it's a journey taken
once too often, expressed by far more experienced hands, for the audience.
Cinematographer Michael Grady ("Wonderland") makes hay with southwestern
sunsets, but the accompanying score ladles on the saccharine whimsy. Walken
is never an unwelcome presence, but his Turner character is destined to be
one of his least memorable. Lucas is merely reactive. Only young Bobo
offers up something fresh and naturalistic.
Tyro screenwriter/director Roberts has made a competent film, but has
nothing new to say and no particular style in which to say it.
C-
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========== X-RAMR-ID: 38783 X-Language: en X-RT-ReviewID: 1326101 X-RT-TitleID: 1137159 X-RT-SourceID: 386 X-RT-AuthorID: 1487 X-RT-RatingText: C-
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