Road movie odd, but entertaining
Don’t Make Me Go (TBC, 109 mins) Directed by Hannah Marks Reviewed by James Croot ★★★ 1⁄2
The hinterlands of Christchurch and Auckland stand in for multiple US states in this endearing, entertaining, but tonally odd road movie.
Kiwi viewers could be forgiven for being distracted by the mixedup use of our geography, as father and daughter Max (John Cho) and Wally Park (Mia Isaac) bicker and attempt to bond on their way from California to New Orleans – and potentially beyond.
Lately their relationship has been strained over the growing influence of Wally’s boy ‘‘friend’’ Glenn, but they haven’t exactly been open with one another for some time.
She is lying about her evening whereabouts, and he’s been carrying on a casual affair with French teacher Annie (Kaya Scodelario) for some time.
However, a visit to the doctor suddenly makes re-establishing a connection with his only offspring a pressing concern for the solo dad.
Turns out those recurring headaches he’s been having are from a malignant bone tumour at the base of his skull. Only surgery followed by radiotherapy is likely to be effective, but, as the medic informs him, there’s a big chance he might not survive the surgery.
‘‘My daughter’s not ready for me to be dead,’’ Max says, as he takes his leave, that night informing Wally that he’s decided to go to his high school reunion in Louisiana after all – and, because she’s now grounded – she’s coming with him.
In truth though, there’s only one person Max is hoping to catch up with, his ex and Wally’s estranged
Mum Nicole (Jen Van Epps), the woman who ran off with his friend Dale (Jemaine Clement) when Wally was just a baby.
What follows is a shaggy series of set pieces, encounters and life lessons, as Max lets Wally behind the wheel for the first time, she sneaks off to a Texas party, they show up at a special kind of beach, and discover a shared love of Iggy Pop. The importance and portents of Wally’s initial voice-over eventually becomes clear, and Josh Thomson shows up in an extended cameo as Max’s gay best mate.
On the famed Black List (which highlights the best unproduced screenplays) for almost a decade, This is Us writer Vera Herbert’s script feels a little forced.
Actor-turned-director Hannah Marks’ (best known for her performances in Weeds and Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency) third feature likewise tries to keep things bowling along and buoyant, finding the joy and drama in the small moments, but, ultimately, Don’t Make Me Go is likely to polarise audiences as to its final destination and worth.
Don’t Make Me Go is streaming now on Prime Video.