Around the Bend

Michael Caine and Christopher Walken breath spirited life into debut writer/director Jordan Roberts’ road trip of family bonding in this independent movie with a big heart. The 85-year-old Henry Lair (Caine) lives in Los Angeles with his 32-year-old grandson Jason (Josh Lucas – "Wonderland") and 6-year-old great grandson Zach (Jonah Bobo) before Jason’s long lost father Turner (Walken) unexpectedly materializes for the first time in 30 years. Turner’s sudden appearance is especially surprising to Zach who has only ever been told that his outlaw grandfather is deceased. The four generations of men do soon drop in number however when the ailing Henry dies immediately after writing his final requests on post-its in the comfort of a local Kentucky Fried Chicken. Henry’s circuitous instructions send his three descendents on family history soul searching road trip from Los Angeles to Albuquerque that culminates in a cathartic admission by Walken’s character that marks one of the actor’s finer cinematic moments in recent years. "Around The Bend" may be a ‘small’ movie, but it’s still better than Hollywood’s average fare.

Rated R. 83 mins. (B) (Three Stars)