Around the Bend (2004)

A bitter, recently divorced man is goaded by his grandfather and son into going on a family road trip to reconcile with his estranged father.

Director:

Jordan Roberts

Writer:

Jordan Roberts

Stars:

Michael Caine, Christopher Walken, Josh Lucas

4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Caine	...	Henry Lair
Jonah Bobo	...	Zach Lair
Josh Lucas	...	Jason Lair
Glenne Headly	...	Katrina
Christopher Walken	...	Turner Lair
David Eigenberg	...	John
Robert Douglas Washington	...	College Student (as Robert Douglas)
Carlos A. Cabarcas	...	KFC Counterman (as Carlos Cabarcas)
Gerry Bamman	...	Albert
Jean Effron	...	Albert's Mother
Lily Knight	...	Tiffany's Saleswoman
Rick Negron	...	KFC Manager
David Marciano	...	Detective
Norbert Weisser	...	Walter
Laurie O'Brien	...	Ruth

Storyline

In Los Angeles, Jason Lair is recently separated, living with his grandfather and his son. He's a banker, tense, with a limp. Grandfather Henry, an archaeologist, wants to take the family van on a trip to Albuquerque. His plans are interrupted when Turner, Jason's father and Henry's son, appears after years of absence. Henry wants to celebrate family, as does Zach, Jason's son; Jason is angry and distant, Turner seems detached and says he's got a bus to catch in the morning. This prompts Henry to put in place an elaborate plan that will send his "tribe" on that Volkswagen bus trip to New Mexico sorting out relationships and digging up a crippled family history.

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Plot Keywords:

watching tv | trip | bus | on the road | dog | 

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Taglines:

The skeletons in the family closet just came out to play

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 January 2005 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

A kanyaron túl

Filming Locations:

New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,879, 10 October 2004

Gross USA:

$193,637

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$579,350

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Independent Pictures (WIP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Katrina is watching Ghost Ship (2002), there is a picture above her head. It is a picture of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

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Goofs

The sound of the horror film that Katrina is watching (Ghost Ship) does not match the scene that is shown.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Henry Lair: [banging on the furniture]
Jason Lair: Henry, it's 1 o'clock.
Henry Lair: I was... drumming for an idea.
Jason Lair: I heard.

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Connections

Featured in It's a Good Day: The Making of 'Around the Bend' (2005)

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Soundtracks

On The Road Again
Written by Bob Dylan
Performed by Bob Dylan
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

A lukewarm misfire for sentimentalists

"Around the Bend" tells of a father (Walken) and son (Lucas) whose lives cross after 30 years apart as the death of their patriarch (Caine) draws near. The body of the film is a road trip which they take, leaping from one Kentucky Coronel Fried Chicken restaurant to another, following the quirky instructions of the dearly departed whose cremated remains are scattered one spoonful at a time as the long estranged men seek reconciliation of old regrets. "Around the Bend" has some worthy sentiment buried in a heap of inconsequential filler, a few poignant moments which break through the monotony of developing characters who are quirky for the sake of quirkiness, and some solid performances which almost overcome the everpresent snippets of corny C&W music. Those who don't mind paper thin plots, many contrived moments, drama diluted with overtones of silliness, and lots of filler may be able to buy into the bittersweet stop and go story. Others will be sorely disappointed to see good performances and camera work wasted on such a flimsy story. (C+)