Review of RV (2006) by Cita W — 24 Mar 2011

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, whose films include The Addams Family, Get Shorty (1995) and Men In Black (1997) comes this road movie, which is a homage really to the National Lampoon's Vacation films of the 1980's, only this one is alot more family friendly, despite gross out gags throughout.

This has father Bob Munro (Robin Williams) struggling to connect with his children Cassie (Joanna Levesque) and Carl (Josh Hutcherson) who would rather use the internet than be with their Dad. After Bob's boss Todd (Will Arnett) is humiliated by Cassie's friend, Todd sends Bob to present a merger proposal for their soda company in Boulder, Colorado.

Bob had a holiday in Hawaii planned then, but he has a plan, he decides to drive from California to Colorado in a rented RV, meaning he can spend time with his family, even though Bob's wife Jamie (Cheryl Hines) isn't sold on it.

But, they set off, and immediately face problems, including Bob being unable to control a large vehicle, a clogged sewage system, an invasion of raccoons and the Munro's running into the upbeat travelling Gornicke family, consisting of Travis (Jeff Daniels), Mary Jo (Kristin Chenoweth).

It's a very silly film indeed, but it does have laughs, Williams doesn't resort to sentimentality, which is good, but Daniels steals the film whenever he and his family appear.