The Art of Travel

For a guy who was valedictorian of his high school class, Connor Layne (Malcolm in the Middle's Christopher Masterson) isn't terribly smart. For one thing, Connor doesn't find out until his wedding day that his fiancée and his best friend have been having an affair. For another, Connor manages to get suckered out of all his money when he impulsively decides to go to South America. But Connor is looking to shake up his life, and that's certainly what happens when he accompanies newfound friends Darlene (Brooke Burns) and Christopher (Johnny Messner) on an expedition across the Darien Gap, a 100-mile-long stretch of dense jungle spanning Panama and Columbia. Director and co-writer Thomas Whelan's low-budget film—shot on location—successfully captures the exhilarating feeling of big journeys, as the three American travelers negotiate a formidable wilderness. The principal players are solid, with Masterson making the best impression as a wounded soul, while Maria Conchita Alonso and Bijou Phillips are also solid in small but notable roles. Recommended. (E. Hulse)