Around the Bend
A mixture of fantasy and cloying sentiment, around Bend is trying so hard to wring tears that she eventually leaves you cold. There is not a moment that feels really honest or sincere in this ponderous saga of fathers and sons from a first-time writer / director Jordan Roberts. Although she works only 85 minutes, around Bend is one of those films that feels much longer. With very little dramatic effect of this movie takes place in the courtesy of Christopher Walken, whose presence off kilter by reducing some of the hokum. This is his trademark eccentric shtick, Walken is the only bright spot in the Around the Bend.
Joshua Lucas (Sweet Home Alabama) stars as Jason Lair, Roberts’ bland each hero, a divorced bank employee living in poverty with his colorful young son Zach (Jonah Bobo) and the crust grandfather Henry (Michael Caine). Attempting to preserve some semblance of normalcy Lair jumbled life in the household is a struggle for Jason. Henry Danish live attendant Katrina (Glenne Headley) seems more intent on watching horror films mountains than caring for Henry, who cheerfully planning, ritual ceremony for his imminent death. Then, in true Fashion prodigal son, Jason, in the ex-con father Turner (Walken) appears suddenly, looking appropriately pursued. Henry While happy to see Turner, Jason’s father never forgave him for refusing years ago. But when Henry expire at the local KFC, and Jason Turner must put aside their differences (shocker, huh?) Get up on the road trip with Zach in honor of Henry last request.
In one of the strangest examples of product placement in recent memory, Kentucky Fried Chicken occupies a prominent place as an integral Henry ritual post production. In Lairs must eat all their meals at KFC and Henry Turner has instructions in grease-stained bag from the colonel. Like everything else in Roberts’ sappy and predictable script, this “quirky” narrative conceit feels very labored. The main characters all harbor secrets that are obvious to get go-around in Bend, which grinds interminably to the inevitable confrontation / Stage Reconciliation between Jason and Turner.
Regarding the actors, only managed to rise above Walken sentimental muck from around Bend. So often have to replicate the original villain in the studio’s films (exception: Catch me if you can), Walken rarely gets a chance to play a sympathetic role as Turner. Walken as complex as before, but he infuses the role with an almost palpable sense of regret and sadness. Kane (last order) is fine in his glorified cameo. He also receives a check early, then Lucas, a charming actor recalls Dennis Quaid gets saddled with a thankless role as Jason, an uptight, humorless stiff.
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