Review of All Roads Lead Home (2008) by Dave A — 31 Aug 2015

Wow. Grief, loss and bitterness are such overused plot devices. In real life do we hold death against people? Or, do we grieve together? There seem to be way too many films with a stoic patriarch or matriarch that holds the death of a son or daughter against the survivors. Grandparents that need an event to force them to bond and start to love their grandkids. I get that generations lose some connection, but this film really stretches it.

Peter Boyle does not look good in this, his last film appearance.

Even in small ways, Patton Oswalt steals every scene he's in. The main characters are just broad strokes.

The final straw is the lesser story about the vet and the mystery of the dying dogs. There's too much coincidence and optimism is how it is resolved. It would be nice if there were actually a company in real life that would do what happens near the end of the film. Sadly, no. It only happens in the movies.