The Open Road Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

The Open Road Blu-ray Movie Review

On the road again...

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 19, 2009

Let's go to Houston.

Baseball is the backdrop for a journey of self discovery, romantic rekindling, and familial reunification in The Open Road, a 2009 Comedy/Drama that stars Jeff Bridges (The Amateurs) and Justin Timberlake (Black Snake Moan) as a father-son tandem reunited by a family emergency. Though the film was given only a limited release, it proves itself as an above-average outing that might not be all that original but does have a few good moments up its sleeve. Strong acting, a solid script, contrived but appropriately dramatic elements, heartwarming plot resolutions, and some gorgeous background scenery make The Open Road a worthwhile picture for audiences craving something familiar and somewhat meaningful but not particularly vile or vulgar.

...just can't wait to get on the road again...

Struggling Minor League baseball player Carlton Garrett (Timberlake) has received word that his ill mother Katherine (Mary Steenburgen, Step Brothers) is in need of surgery due to complications from a heart defect. Before signing off on the operation, she asks Carlton to track down and bring to her side her ex-husband and Carlton's father, Kyle Garrett (Bridges), a former baseball hero with the Houston Astros and current Hall-of-Famer. Carlton learns that his father is in Ohio at a memorabilia signing event, and he and his friend/ex-girlfriend Lucy (Kate Mara, Transsiberian) fly to the Buckeye state to try and convince Kyle to return to Houston with them. Kyle, much to Carlton's surprise, agrees, though a mishap at the airport keeps them from making the return flight to the Lone Star state. At Lucy's recommendation, the trio rent a car and begin the drive through middle America that sees the three of them come to terms with issues past and present as they race back to Texas to fulfill what could be Katherine's final wish.

Though baseball makes for a common theme between father and son, it factors into the story at only a superficial level. However, the characters' respective careers parallel their history and current place in the world, dad the popular retired player and son the struggling Minor Leaguer. Kyle Garrett lives a life that's anything but stable; his bank account may be full and his fame as strong as ever, but such niceties don't fill that void that haunts him behind the veil of his smooth-talking and happy-go-lucky attitude. On the flip side, Carlton Garrett's on-the-field struggles reflect his personal journey off the diamond; he's stressing over a sick mother and a confused relationship with a former sweetheart turned friend, not to mention an estranged father that hasn't been a part of his life when he was needed the most. Jeff Bridges and Justin Timberlake are both good in their respective roles, their performances energized all the more by a palpable chemistry that rubs off on the remainder of the cast, including Mary Steenburgen, Kata Mara, and a host of cameo appearances from a diverse collection of talent. Bridges mumbles his way through some lines and doesn't pull off the Texas accent, but he overcomes admittedly minor complaints thanks to a strong portrayal of a nicely-drawn character who is all at once quirky, mysterious, and subtly dark and depressing. His counterpart, Justin Timberlake, shows a surprisingly good range as he copes with problems on several fronts: a sick mother, a floundering career, a romantic relationship gone awry, and a father suddenly thrust back into his life. The singer handles the material remarkably well for all the complexities that influence the character's existence, and he and Bridges turn an otherwise ordinary picture into something that's better than expected.

As a road trip movie, The Open Road is pretty standard stuff. It follows a basic formula that sees several characters learn more about one another, overcome differences, and realize that time together is better than time apart. The lack of originality isn't a hindrance to the film, though; while it isn't a help, either, the strong characterization and fine performances overpower the underlying monotony of the genre and allow it to exceed expectations even though it goes exactly where genre consensus would have it end up. The Open Road does boast some wonderful scenery, and visually, the film makes for a rich and rewarding journey through America's heartland. The film, unfortunately, never really lingers on any one location, but several fleeting shots of farmland, small towns, and big cities all come together to encompass what America is all about. The Open Road does a fine job of conveying the wonder, the ups, the downs, and everything in between that define the typical road trip, and it does so to the benefit of the story and the development of the characters, every situation building up to the ultimate resolutions that leave the audience satisfied with the outcome and pleased to have shared the journey with Kyle, Carlton, and Lucy.

The Open Road Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Open Road pulls into Blu-ray with a decent but slightly underwhelming 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer that's marked by a host of minor annoyances. It features a warm color palette that's reflected in rosy flesh tones throughout. On top of a hint of banding in a few shots, the image goes soft on occasion with a few shots appearing terribly artificial, almost as if characters had been cut-and-pasted into the frame. Blacks appear somewhat uneven, crushing details here and looking too bright there, though some of the better scenes feature rich and inky blacks that appear naturally realized. There's also a touch of haloing around a few scattered objects. All is not lost, however. The Open Road sports a fair amount of depth and above-average detail in many shots; whether overhead shots of pavement that reveal a rich a palpable texture, lines and seams in clothing, or the wear and tear of weathered wooden fence posts seen along the journey from Ohio to Texas, the transfer allows for a fair amount of detail to excite the visual senses. Color reproduction is solid and generally natural, with no shades appearing too aggressive or too dull. Rounded out by a thin veneer of grain that adds to a nice film-like appearance when all is right with the transfer, The Open Road makes for a somewhat problematic but ultimately passable Blu-ray release from Starz.

The Open Road Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Open Road travels onto Blu-ray with a front-heavy Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This one is terribly basic but not overtly problematic. Music sometimes sounds cramped up the middle with little in the way of a natural flow to the sides, not to mention the back. Surround activity is minimal; atmospherics remain focused across the front, whether chirping crickets during a nighttime scene outside of a gas station or background music in a restaurant, both in chapter four. Dialogue delivery, outside of a few muffled lines underneath Jeff Bridges' accent, is consistently smooth and crisp. There's very little else to this one. It delivers a basic, no-frills listen that suits the movie well enough but won't wow listeners in any regard.

The Open Road Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Open Road sputters onto Blu-ray with only two extras of note. First is a commentary track with Writer/Director Michael Meredith and Actor Jeff Bridges. They discuss shooting locations, the hospitality of co-stars Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson, driving the real route of the characters in order to capture some of the exterior shots, set design, the importance of rehearsals to a performance, the pre-movie debate as to which vehicle should feature prominently in the film, and much more. Despite some annoying stretches of silence, fans of the film should enjoy this track well enough. Also included is Behind the Scenes of 'The Open Road' (1080p, 6:45), an all-too-short piece featuring the cast and crew sharing their thoughts on the film's themes and style. Also included is the film's theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:14) and additional 1080p trailers for Spread, Mad Money, and Last Chance Harvey.

The Open Road Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Though something of a lukewarm entry into the Road Trip genre, The Open Road drives past its superficialities and delivers a touching if not predictable story that boasts good characters and equally solid performances from Jeff Bridges and Justin Timberlake. Baseball fans might be disappointed that the sport doesn't feature more prominently into the picture, but the careers both past and present of its two lead characters do symbolize their place in life as the picture begins. The Open Road arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Starz as a decent presentation. Featuring a passable 1080p transfer, a meat-and-potatoes lossless soundtrack, and a couple of extras, The Open Road comes recommended as a rental.