Around the Bend (DVD)

Around the Bend wasn't exactly a stand out film last year and while it boasts an excellent cast of actors featuring Christopher Walken, Josh Lucas and Michael Caine there are enough problems with the film that it doesn't exactly resonate in your mind, but with its 83 minute running time I would say there are far worse things you could watch.

After watching the special features on this disc it is quickly evident that Around the Bend means very much to writer/director Jordan Roberts as he explains the decade worth of work he put into the script before it was an actual finished film and if only the absolute passion he felt for the project was completely evident in the story this one could have knocked my socks off.

The film tells the story of a broken family that is suddenly thrust back together as four generations of men are reunited for one final dinner at a local KFC.

It is shortly after this that Henry Lair (Caine) passes on leaving behind a KFC bag full of clues left for his son Turner (Walken), his grandson Jason (Josh) and his great-grandson Zach (Bobo). It is his final wish that the three take a journey to uncover the truth about their family's past.

Where Around the Bend runs into trouble is that it doesn't take the chances it needs to take to make it a great film. It ends up being an extremely predictable story that in the end can't seem to grab the emotion it wants and leaves you with a ho-hum feeling as the credits role.

As for the features on this disc you are going to have to be a true lover of the film to enjoy them as Jordan Roberts cannot seem to stop repeating himself whether it is on his audio commentary or the commentary on the deleted scenes, you too will soon become tired of the saying, "I just wanted to get Turner to the doorstep quicker." Along with that is a too long documentary that follows the director around on his first directorial outing.

Overall this movie is a rental if there is nothing else to watch, but if you are out of options pick it up, but don't get mad at me if you don't like it... you've heard my opinion.