Around the Bend

One of those heartfelt movies. A family of boys (so to speak) on a trip to rebuild their family bonds. But how they got there, is a different story.

Jason, played by Josh Lucas, is living with his grandfather Henry, played by Michael Caine. Henry is on his deathbed, or so he feels, and one day, out of the blue, Jason's father, Turner, played by Christopher Walken, shows up unexpectedly and the family is reunited. Of course, Jason has a son, Zach, played by Jonah Bobo and the four of them are about embark on a bonding experience that will change their lives.

But because Turner has left Jason for so long, things don't go as planned and instead, Henry decides to take things into his own hands. Just before he dies, he takes Zach and goes to KFC where he writes a series of notes and puzzels and puts them into bag after bag after bag as part of a journey they are all to participate in.

Jason receives a call and both he and Turner show up that the KFC to see Henry dead at a booth. So Turner takes it upon himself to fulfil his final wishes. There's a twist. There's something about Turner that Jason doesn't know and doesn't understand. And at the end of the movie when it's revealled, it's heart breaking. It's so sad. But the movie is brilliant.

There's an underlying meaning to the movie but I don't exactly know how to put it. Whether it be "let go of the past" or "forgiveness"... it's something deep that I just can't explain. But it's definitely a good movie to watch. (Oh, it could also be a movie that's completely sponsored and endorsed by KFC as well... you'll see what I mean!)

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384810/
Apple Trailers: http://www.apple.com/trailers/warner_independent_pictures/around_the_bend.html