Around the Bend

Quirkiness is a major ingredient in Jordan Roberts' heartfelt but affected study of four generations in a troubled California family. Loosely based on the writer-director's difficult relationship with his own ne'er-do-well dad, Around the Bend is essentially a road movie in which an estranged father and son (Christopher Walken and Josh Lucas), together with the latter's young son (Jonah Bobo), bond while traveling across the southwest in a broken-down van trying to fulfill the last wishes of the just-deceased family patriarch (Michael Caine), a cantankerous old duffer who's mapped out a quest for the trio of survivors that he hopes will heal the wounds in those he's left behind. The carefully chosen itinerary, marked by obligatory stops at franchises of the old man's favorite fast-food restaurant, will culminate in the revelation of the clan's big secret--the reason why the father abandoned his son years earlier--and, perhaps, bring about reconciliation. While the journey sports some oddly amusing and touching moments, and Caine (in his brief introductory scenes) and Walken (in his dominant role) obviously relish the opportunities to play up their characters' oddities, there is--in the end--a strain of exaggerated eccentricity to the script, and the final reel comes perilously close to mawkishness. An optional purchase. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by writer-director Jordan Roberts, the 51-minute "making-of" documentary “It's a Good Day,” 15 minutes of additional scenes with optional commentary by Roberts, a soundtrack spot, and a trailer. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a so-so film.] (F. Swietek)