Ride the Eagle

The film is a lot more emotional and engaging than I expected. Despite the grim subject, it still manages to maintain a light tone, which is good. I enjoyed watching it.

Most famous for being shot during quarantine with the actors largely alone, this is more than just an experiment in monologue-based storytelling. It's a touching (a word that critics try to stay away from, but there I said it!) story of a guy crossing off his late mom's bucket list to get his inheritance of her house. On paper, the basis for the plot is a little contrived but it makes sense. There's a very sweet and natural-sounding courtship between two old exes (Good Place's D'Arcy Carden) as well as a fine exploration of an adult coming to grips with mommy issues.

"Satisfying, fun and well-worked trip."

Without standing out for its narrative, Ride the eagle is the story of a man who processes all the feelings derived from the loss of a close relative. A well-balanced, funny and sincere story, but at times it goes too fast.

The chemistry between the characters is very enjoyable and fun, especially the outstanding work of Jake Johnson and D'Arcy Carden. Ride the eagle, has a beautiful photography, a very good soundtrack, funny moments and good performances, a beautifully constructed film with an important message about the meaning of happiness and the importance of connecting and interacting with the people we love.

"Ride the eagle gets things done pretty well, a genuine and heartwarming film for these strange times"

Slacker musician Leif Reinhold (Jake Johnson) is told of his estranged mother Honey (Susan Sarandon)'s death. She leaves him her a large cabin but the conditional inheritance comes with many tasks to complete. One of the tasks is to call his former love Audrey (D'Arcy Carden). Carl (J. K. Simmons) is Honey's ex.

Jake and D'Arcy have a nice comedic chemistry even on the phone. I wouldn't them doing something more in another movie. The phone sex is fun. They have the same comedic sensibility. They could have done more in this movie like talk about their past relationship. It would have been fine to have them talked the whole movie. Jake and J. K. are also good but they are one person removed. There is always going to be a hole in the middle of their connection. This is a fine little indie.

First off, not sure if this was written as a pandemic movie, or if they had to adapt it to pandemic conditions, but conceptionally it works without a pandemic and that's awesome.

Second, I think the algorithm got me, suggesting this via Hulu from my internet searches. My mother just passed away from covid, and i've had to deal with her estate. I heavily suspect google provided that information to hulu.

And now on content, this movie hits home in alot of areas. My mother was a bit crazy, had secrets, and weird stuff that i've been having to deal with in just sending her off. It's not a conditional list, but I think most people who die before their 70s aren't as prepared as they should be. This leaves alot of unfinished things. This movie's turn of using a mother who knows she is near death to send her son on missions is much less tragic and opens itself to a pleasant, although not hilarious, comedy. The characters go through many things that i've had to, but with different details. The main character gets through this and is a better person on the end, its definitely heartening to have that presented to me at this point. Good stuff.