A Fantastic road trip of discovery Lord of Rings star is magic in family tale

The Lord of the Rings star is in Oscar-winning form as the emotional power behind this trip of discovery.

He plays uncompromising, dad-ofsix Ben Cash, who has rejected the consumer society and is raising his kids in a secluded mountain yurt.

They are schooled at home and live off the land, survivalist style.

When Ben’s beloved wife dies in hospital he has five days to travel across the US for the funeral.

But his estranged, wealthy fatherin-law – played by a ferocious Frank Langella, who also deserves an Oscar – threatens to have him arrested if he attends the service.

Travelling in a battered old school bus to the funeral, the kids’ see the US as an alien world full of fat, consumerdriven screen-addicted idiots.

But they are unprepared for the real world and Ben begins to realise he must reconsider his own values or risk losing his family.

The tremendous young cast burn through scenes with energy and charm, working from a rich, smart script filled with character, humour and sadness. Brit actor George MacKay is endearingly gawky as Ben’s rebellious eldest son Bo.

Poppet Shree Crooks is the smallest child who gives us the biggest laughs and steals scenes. What could be a depressing grind through grief and regret becomes a joyous celebration of family life. A first-class ride all the way. IN his finest acting turn as an alien on a mission, Starman David Bowie beams back into cinemas on Friday in a newly remastered deluxe version of Nic Roeg’s great 1976 sci-fi film