This review is a little different, in that I’m reviewing a viewing experience, rather than a book or CD. Such fun!
I expected to be entertained, roll my eyes, and let out a few giggles, while watching The Road to Edmond. I certainly hadn't anticipated needing tissues nearby. What a surprise!
Actually, The Road to Edmond is full of surprises. Yes, it’s a comedic indie film, but its roots go much, much deeper than that. It incorporates themes of acceptance and faith into a fun and unexpected road-trip, and raises important questions that the characters, as well as viewers, might be surprised by.
At the beginning of the movie, it was obvious to me the two actors were not professionals, but as the story progressed that mattered less and less. The plot is what moved the story forward, and the underlying message pricked a place in my heart. After all, doesn’t the importance of a movie, book, or story, lie in the way it makes you feel? The way it puts you on a new course or new way of thinking? The way it expands you?
There were a few scenes that you need to be aware of before having younger viewers watch. I suggest adults watch first, and then use their own judgment on what’s appropriate for their teens. There are possibly offensive scenes, using curse words, drug use, and sexuality, but in the context of this movie, most of it seems fitting. (There is one particular scene involving Bible pages that still doesn’t sit right with me.) Overall, the message is significant and reflective.
I wasn’t too sure I’d become attached to Cleo and Larry, but I soon found myself cheering for them both. As I learned more about them, their hearts became more and more visible, and they grew on me. They’re human. They have flaws, they’re sinners, they say, do, and think wrong things. But their hearts are in search of answers.
This dramatic comedy, the characters and messages it contains, might not be for everybody. But if you have an open mind and an open heart, you’re sure to be entertained, surprised, and moved. I’d definitely watch them again (in this film or another) if the opportunity arose.
This is one of my favorite lines, and a poignant scene, in the movie:
“What if life isn’t about having the right answers all the time? What if it’s about asking better questions?”
4 Stars
Cover: Love it
Title: Love it
Producer and Director: David Trotter
Actors: Tripp Fuller, Nathanael Welch
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Length: Approximately 2 hours
I watched an Advance Digital Copy through the Speakeasy network.
About the Film
Cleo loves his life as a youth pastor in suburban Denver, but his genuine support for a teenage girl has put his job in jeopardy. When the church's Elder Board becomes aware of the situation, he's asked to take two weeks off to consider his actions and the impact on his role in ministry. Distraught by the arrival of this news via email, Cleo grabs a backpack and bike to hit the road and figure out what's really true. His journey takes a turn toward Edmond, Oklahoma, when he hitches a ride from a mysterious traveler named Larry and his dead father. Larry's intense skepticism along with a string of peculiar signs causes Cleo to question more than his relationship with the teen... he questions the very existence of Love.
#theroadtoedmond
