Breaking the Rules (1992)Two friends take their dying buddy on one last road trip. Director:Neal IsraelWriter:Paul W. Shapiro |
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Breaking the Rules (1992)Two friends take their dying buddy on one last road trip. Director:Neal IsraelWriter:Paul W. Shapiro |
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Shawn Phelan | ... |
Young Phil
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Jackey Vinson | ... |
Young Gene
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| Marty Belafsky | ... |
Young Rob
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| Jason Bateman | ... |
Phil Stepler
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| C. Thomas Howell | ... |
Gene Michaels
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| Jonathan Silverman | ... |
Rob Konigsberg
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Kent Bateman | ... |
Mr. Stepler
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Krista Tesreau | ... |
Rob's Date
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| Annie Potts | ... |
Mary Klinglitch
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Eurlyne Epper | ... |
Redneck Woman
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Jeffrey J. Dashnaw | ... |
Redneck #1
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Steven Chambers | ... |
Redneck #2
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Mark Rosenblatt | ... |
Bartender
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Frank Wagner | ... |
Justice of the Peace
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Manuel Pickett | ... |
Minister in Arizona
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A cancer stricken man takes his two best friends whom he hasn't seen in a long time on a road trip. The two friends aren't talking to each other due to a bad fallout years ago. On the way they meet an attractive wild woman with a heart of gold. Written by Mystic80
I'm always a sucker for those `what can you say about a girl/guy who's died' kinda movies. From Love Story to Torch Song Trilogy to Brian's Song, in the movies there is a certain sort of nobility endowed by dying. It's a mystery that we all fear and wonder about and ultimately face more or less on our own. There may be others present but we do it alone in our own, individual ways.
What's important is what goes before and what we have done for those that we leave behind.
This movie deals with that issue and does it in a life affirming way. What Phil (Jason Bateman) does for Gene (C. Thomas Howell) and Rob (Jonathon Silverman) is get them back together as friends, and helps them deal with his impending death while dealing with it himself in the best way that he can. Yes, this theme has been done before. Yes there are aspects that are completely ignored. And Yes, some parts could have been done better, but overall I'm glad that I saw this movie and think that many others would be too.
The movie is bittersweet without being maudlin. It has heart and lets the viewer see the emotions of three young men, no mean feat for a movie. When Mary Klinglitch (Annie Potts) joins the group it somehow allows the guys to drop some of their masculine bravado and her presence seems to make the group `whole'. Perhaps its her presence that makes it ok for these guys to be `Breaking the Rules' about way men behave when together.