Review of On the Road (2012) by Andres G — 22 Mar 2013

Meandering, but gorgeous. This is a story that really isn't a great story, but it's an experience on the page. On screen, it's just dull cinema. That said, I thought all three of the leads (Riley, Headland, and Stewart) did a great job with their performances.

Stewart's broken portrayal of Marylou is exactly what you expect it to be, but I didn't have a problem with her. Riley was very suitable and did a good job as Sal. Garret Headland is the big surprise of the film as Dean is definitely the most interesting character and his portrayal of someone who is a charismatic time-bomb is one of the biggest strong points of the film.

My problems with this film stem from the direction and the overall story. It's not a story that's amazing because of it's actions or events, it's amazing because of the poetry and the language that is erupting from the page.

The movie doesn't seem to capture the spirit of Kerowac, but it does try to romanticize the feeling of letting go and going on the road. Overall, the film is an admirable failure but a failure nonetheless.

Rental.