The Open Road – DVD Review

Film, Reviews

openroad

Ever see commercials or trailers for films that you aren’t exactly sure what to think about them? Then the next thing you know, you end up watching said film somehow or another? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me here with The Open Road. For about two weeks there were commercials for the DVD release mixed in with some of my favorite television shows and I didn’t know how to really see the film. Justin Timberlake is getting better as an actor, but hasn’t shown his true potential yet. Jeff Bridges is always money no matter what role he is thrown into. Yet the commercials made the film appear to me as if it was something I’d never really go out of my way to check out. Then low and behold it ends up in my mailbox for review and sadly my mind still doesn’t know entirely what to make of it.

Carlton Garrett (Timberlake) is a minor league baseball player that isn’t going anywhere fast with his chosen career path. Carlton is called by his mother Katherine (Mary Steenburgen) as she gets ready to undergo a heart operation that she may very well not come out of and asks him to do possibly one last favor for her. She asks Carlton to set out and find her ex-husband, his father, Kyle (Bridges) so that she may see him for what very well could be the last time they are together. Carlton reluctantly abides by his mother’s wish and sets out with his ex-girlfriend Lucy (Kate Mara) for the journey to find his father.

Carlton eventually catches up with Kyle and comes to learn that his ex-baseball superstar father is now an alcoholic that thinks he has the world at his fingertips. But he still agrees to head back with his son and see his dying ex-wife. Along the way, though, Kyle tries to come up with every reason to back out of the trip making life extremely difficult for Carlton who is already trying to deal with pent up old feelings for Lucy. The trip ends up being a road to hell and back as Carlton’s mind and heart are caught in a whirlwind of emotions that he must learn to come to grips with if that’s even possible riding in the car with the two people he’s with.

One of the biggest problems facing The Open Road is just how much they tried to throw into a single story. The main focus should be on Kyle and Carlton trying to reconcile their relationship through an event that could change their lives forever. Sadly the addition of Lucy and other little random sub-plots makes the film overly complicated and takes the focus off of what we should most be paying attention to. Bridges is phenomenal here as always and it is his performance that truly saves the film from being a total bomb. Timberlake showed promise in Black Snake Moan and in his multiple appearances on Saturday Night Live, but took three steps back here as his lack of acting ability shines through.

The film is shown in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen format and there may be some instances where it’s meant to look dark and dull, but it happens way too often here. This is just not a good transfer.

The film is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and all can be heard clearly without any problems with dialogue coming through alright. Sadly the soundtrack doesn’t even give the surround speakers much of a workout.

Audio Commentary – Writer/Director Michael Meredith and Jeff Bridges sit down together for a friendly little commentary track. Meredith doesn’t really add a whole lot to the conversation seeing as it is kept alive by Bridges and all the stories he’s willing to share. Not the liveliest commentary which does not help in having to watch the film a second time through.

Behind The Scenes – A very basic behind the scenes featurette that includes filming locations, off camera footage, and interviews with cast and crew. Really way too short to ever get much of anything going making this rather boring. (6:45)

Theatrical Trailer

Well, it seems that my instincts in thinking The Open Road would not be a film that ever purposely graced my television were correct, but it had a chance. Had the plot been a little less convoluted and had Timberlake shown his true potential as he has before then things may have turned out a little differently. That is not the case and the only enjoyment to be had here is Bridges’ talent, but you can grab any number of films to see that and you’ll actually enjoy them too. Don’t bother with a purchase or rental here, but if you think it’s still something you’re interested in then wait for its release on cable television because it’s bound to happen.


Anchor Bay Home Entertainment presents The Open Road. Directed by: Michael Meredith. Starring: Jeff Bridges, Justin Timberlake, Kate Mara, Harry Dean Stanton, Lyle Lovett, Mary Steenburgen. Written by: Michael Meredith. Running time: 90 minutes. Rating: PG-13. Released on DVD: November 17, 2009. Available at Amazon.com