Showcasing at last year’s Los Angeles Film Festival comes The Road Within, a melodramatic story about three young adults struggling with psychological disorders who embark on a road trip in a bid to forget the past and embrace the mystery of the future. This coming of age film comes from writer/director Gren Wells, whose previous screenwriting credits include the Kate Hudson starring A Little Bit of Heaven. What the script itself lacks in emotional investment and uniqueness is made up for in captivating performances, giving this the little-indie-that-could a small shot at success outside of the festival circuit.
Vincent (Robert Sheehan) has Tourette’s syndrome, and as a result, uncontrollably blurts out curse words and experiences involuntary bodily movements. After the death of his mother, Vincent’s father Robert (Robert Patrick) admits him into an experimental psychiatric hospital, where he meets his OCD centric roommate Alex (Dev Patel) and Marie (Zoë Kravitz), who is battling anorexia. Spontaneously, after a day (or two) after Vincent’s admission, they decide to break out of the clinic and steal the car of their therapist, Dr. Rose (Kyra Sedgwick), and the merry band of misfits head West, with nothing but the clothes on their backs and their issues in full force.
We’re not anticipating the story as much as we are observing the character’s flaws, and the actors themselves.
It’s not long until Dr. Rose and Robert are on the trail, and a mild game of cat and mouse ensues. Literally a day later, Dr. Rose and Robert happen to randomly find the escapees in the middle of the forest. A fast thinking plan distracts the duo long enough for the group to speed off to California. While on the road, all three disorders collide like a car crash reminiscent of The Three Stooges; there is yelling, cursing, and general law-breaking, yet the story unfolds at a snail’s pace. Of course, it’s during this time that Vincent and Marie become close, and Alex confronts his issues head on. But even these pivotal plot moments seem dull in comparison to the chaos in the car.
The story is tepid at best; we know where the film is headed from the very beginning. We’re not anticipating the story as much as we are observing the character’s flaws, and the actors themselves. Sheehan is extremely convincing as both a Tourettes sufferer and American, both of which he is not in real life. His British accent is completely masked by his unparalleled impersonations of various tics and mannerisms. If it were anyone else playing the part of Vincent, this would have been a completely different movie and not in a good way. Zoë plays Marie with a tough exterior but knows when to let the emotion through. Struggling with anorexia when she was younger, she talks about her uncomfortable experience dropping down to 90 lbs to play the part in Nylon, which is definitely worth the read. Of all the performances, however, it is Dev Patel that steals the screen as “clean freak” Alex. He is on the receiving end of taunting from Marie constantly, but through all of his mundane routines, his solemn heart shines through and makes him undeniably likable. Of all of the roles Patel has taken, Alex may be his biggest emotional one to date.
If you’re interested in a film for character study, The Road Within is a good start. Tourette’s Syndrome, like other disorders, is one of the biggest challenges an actor can tackle because is both and internal and external battle. All three actors find the line between realistic and overboard and carefully execute a performance worth a watch. If you’re looking for an inspiring road trip movie about a group of friends experiencing life’s highs and lows, this is not it, however, its desire to be a sentimental film does deserve a nod of approval.
The Road Within opens at Laemmle Theaters today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEA0LfvcpFw
