The Long Way Home

Jack Lemmon is great in this drama, portraying a widower with masterly realism, balancing between a grumpy old man and the character he played in Short Cuts. While watching the movie, I was afraid it would eventually turn overbearingly sentimental, but it never did. It's a lovely, thought provoking story. Surprisingly fresh and much recommended.

At last a movie that deals sensitively with the relationship between a widower (recent) and his children and why those children choose a course of action which does not always include the widower (Jack Lemmon). The fact that he chooses, on the spur of the moment, to go to California to see someone he has not seen for 50 years is testimony to the fact that he believes his life is being led by others and not himself. Part of the self realisation comes from a young woman who nearly runs him over and it is through her that he gradually realises that he is not old, he does not have to retire and that he has a purpose after all. A touching movie with nice warm overtones. If you are a child with an aged parent, it is a movie which one should see so that you do not make the same assumptions!

I think the major theme of this movie revolves around the ubiquitous problem of the gap between two generations. Tom Gerrin, a 75 year old widower finds himself at the mercy of the decisions made for him by his sons after his wife expires. He moves into one of his son's house but is soon irritated with the way everyone treats him like an invalid over there. Their over-solicitude makes him do something they fear - go off without telling anyone, drive them nuts wondering what must have happened to him but also give his sons time to reflect on what went wrong in their relationship with their father. Meanwhile Tom comes close to getting run-down by a young collegiate who is driving across the country to meet her parents. This chance meeting culminates in Tom deciding to travel or literally hitch-hike across the country to California to meet an old sweetheart. Tom and Leann's friendship helps them to realise on what's important in their lives and mostly why do your own near and dear ones behave the way they do. Interspersed with witty dialogues and escapades with all the various people they meet along their way, with well-rounded characters, some beautiful scenery and music, this is a heartwarming feel-good movie that touches on the bitter-sweet relationship between parents and children..All is not lost..Tom couldn't get along with his middle-aged sons, but he does so strikingly with a collegiate in her early 20's and from this interaction decides to not let the rest of his life be ruled by the decisions made by others for him. The acting is commendable. I've not seen any other movies starring Jack Lemmon, but in this he is very convincing in his role and so is Sarah Paulson as Leann. She comes across as a friendly, intelligent girl with her head firmly on her shoulders. I look forward to seeing more performances by these two actors. This movie is worth watching for those who care for a nice leisurely movie which will not leave you disappointed..

The scenes between Jack Lemmon and Sarah Paulson make The Long Way Home something special. This Hallmark Channel TV film explores the problems of old age when you feel you have no purpose any more.

Lemmon is playing someone in his own age bracket, a 70 something widower who went to war in World War II, married a hometown sweetheart and raised a family. Now he lives with one of his sons Garwin Sanford and Kristin Griffith and they fuss over him like he's an invalid.

He's hardly that, in fact he was a cabinetmaker an honorable craft which he was employed at for almost half a century. Lemmon looks like a man who took pride in his work.

One day when the circus comes to town he plays hooky. He meets Sarah Paulson a girl who is traveling west to rejoin her parents in California. The two of them just hit it off, he's the grandfather she never had. Lemmon and Paulson decide to journey together, Lemmon to meet up with an old girlfriend Betty Garrett, a widow who lives near Paulson's parents.

Lemmon and Garrett have a wonderful reunion scene. Lemmon's in Kansas and she's in California. Geography is against them in the romance department, but it's not insurmountable.

Lemmon also learns quite a life lesson from meeting Paulson's parents, especially her father. As that immortal 20th century philosopher Yogi Berra put it, it ain't over till it's over.

The Long Way Home is a wonderful duel character study and inspiring, especially to an old codger like me.

Warm and thoughtful movie, about standing at a roadblock not knowing which way 2 go... But then along comes your going to be best friend. LOVED IT James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 04/11/2021.