Review of On the Road (2012) by Sapphire G — 27 Jan 2013

Props to Garret Hedlund, who played Dean Moriarty, fantastic job.

I haven't read the book, so I will only write my feelings about the story portrayed in the movie.

I hated Dean Moriarty. Funny when a selfish jerk is seen as a free-spirited, passionate individual. Sal Paradise, our hero, is nothing but a shell of a man. Bland, incredibly gullible, a man of inaction. Except for following Dean around like a puppy and praising him. Dean, the maniac. The "free-spirit," who won't be tied down by social conventions, including his duties to his family. This is the guy who knows nothing about personal responsibility, friendship, commitment, or loyalty. It's all about him, and his needs and desires. Whoever he has to use throughout his hedonistic adventure is fair game, everyone is expendable to him. This is the guy who leaves behind his sick friend when he most needs him. He is not a free spirit, but a selfish piece of trash.

These people's musings about life and the meaning of it all are mere hippie, useless ramblings. They spend their time driving, using each other, drinking or smoking themselves stupid, and stealing. Because yeah, how else will you survive, oh non-conformist youth. No character development whatsoever. No pivotal moment or epiphanies, no deep insights, no nothing. Years pass, and no one actually changes. Same old stuff and patterns of behavior, over and over. The characters are selfish, foolish, and irresponsible. Unrelatable. Unless you are into consciously making poor decisions and leaving a wreck behind you. And nothing they do really makes them happy, on the contrary.