The Art of Travel

Movie was a little entertaining, but nothing new in it.

So... guy who travels... so he travels... and??? NOTHING MORE!!! come on, he does not even makes a lovable character at the end of the movie, in the end you get more interested in other characters - what happened to them, not in him.

I didn't even get the idea - what did director wanted to tell us... I guess nothing. Would not watch this movie again, but still if you have nothing to do you could rent it, but I would not recommend you to go and see it in cinema, just not good enough.

So I give this movie 5 stars - mediocre. Not bad, but definitely not great also.

Had googled 'great travel movies' before I watched this, and must admit that it has been a long time since I was that disappointed. I will not employ tired similes in this review (such as 'it has as much depth as a well-splashed puddle') but rarely have I seen a movie - with so much potential to be engaging - being so unengaging. All the characters overacted, so I was left midway through wondering whether this was meant to be a farce or a philosophical 'find yourself' film. Masterson's character annoyed me so much that had I encountered him on his central/south American odyssey, I would have slapped him to the deepest reaches of Patagonia. While there was some redemption in the cinematography, the overall premise of this movie was constructed with incredulous naivety and could just very well turn you against backpackers or put you off your next jaunt to Machu Picchu

Inevitable comparisons to "Motorcycle Diaries". Yes, there is a difficult trek through Central and South America. But that's pretty much where the similarities end.

The Motorcycle Diaries succeeded because Che is a compelling character, not a fresh-out- of-high-school kid with a vindictive sense of humor. There is no self-discovery in this film; no greater themes (populism, for example, in MD).

The main character in this film simply realizes he likes running away from his seemingly-cool family and being a man-child with no responsibilities. He's the embodiment of every guy in a midlife crisis who still wants to do "something really cool" with his life, to get away from it all, with a threesome in a Nicaraguan hotel thrown in for good measure.

I will say that I laughed at certain points in this movie. The supporting characters are much more entertaining (not to say that Masterson was bad in the role; it's just not a very good role). But halfway through, when I started groaning and rolling my eyes more than laughing, it became less and less worth standing in line at the Philly Film Festival for.

I recently saw this at the 2008 Palm Springs International Film Fesitval. Director/writer Thomas Whelan led a delegation from the film including co-writer Brian LaBelle and actors Christopher Masterson, Angelika Baran and Shalim Ortiz for an audience Q&A after the film. The audience at my screening seemed to really like this adventure-romance tale. Connor Layne (Christopehr Masterson) is a high school graduate, just graduated and accepted to Cal-Berkeley and on his wedding day, (that's right he's getting married at 18 and his fiancé isn't pregnant either) he suddenly and elaborately has a change in plans but decides to go off on a honeymoon of sorts anyway. A chance meeting in Nicaraugua with an adventurous couple Christopher (Johnny Messner) and his wife Darlene (Brooke Burns) finds him enlisted to take part in a grueling journey to set a record by crossing the 100 mile Darien Gap through a dangerous and primitive jungle in a jeep. Also in the crew are Shalim Ortiz as Carlos, Angelika Baran as Anna, James Duvall as Taylor and Jake Muxworthy as Justin. The adventure becomes a life-changing experience for the aspiring writer/adventurer Layne. Veteran actors Maria Conchita Alonso and Ernie Lively are wonderful in support roles as Layne's parents. The entire cast is good and it is beautifully photographed by cinematographer Lawson Derning. You have to suspend belief in the implausibilities and many holes in the story and 28 year old former Malcom in the Middle star Masterson seems a little worldly and long in the tooth for an 18 year old but that didn't stop people from enjoying it and Whelan is already thinking sequel. I spoke privately with Whelan after the Q&A and I brought up several things about the story that I didn't buy, all of which he was well aware of and was a real good sport and I wasn't offending him at all. The seven principal actors are a good cast and it's a feel-good kind of story but I can only muster up a 7 out of 10.

I'm reviewing this movie nearly 5 years after I saw it, so bear with me. "Why bother," you ask? Because 5 years later I'm still hard pressed to come up with a movie like it.

A real gem, though not necessarily everyone's cup of tea, "The Art of Travel" will appeal to those of you wanderlusting souls who can enjoy adventures in the simple act of getting on a plane and going somewhere new. There are no car chases, bank heists or torrid love affairs with hot supermodels. But since when have any of you experienced any of that? (If you have, then why the heck are you watching movies like the rest of us schmoes??)

Actually the story does contain some heavy action & suspense, possibly some good old Central American gunfire, but that's not intended to be the focus. On the contrary, life without hair-raising thrills can be every bit as adventurous and fun, and "The Art of Travel" shows us precisely that. I highly recommend it to young people who plan on traveling the world, as well as older folks who have never had the opportunity. This film awakens the adventurer in all of us. And don't get me wrong; it's certainly not boring. Like any good trip to a foreign land, every minute is packed with the unexpected. Hats off to the filmmakers for bringing the unique magic of travel into our living rooms.