Cas & Dylan

Just saw it at the Dublin Film Festival and it's an absolutely great movie. The acting of both leads is perfect. You never stop believing them. And you go with them through the whole journey (both the literal road journey and the bigger metaphorical one). The movie is actually surprisingly light and funny (considering the story). Even though it touches rather serious topics of life and death, it manages to do so very gently and inoffensively and with a good deal of humour. It kind of focuses more on them learning from each other how to live then on him dying. So the overall feeling is surprisingly optimistic. And, since it's a road movie, you'll get some beautiful wide-screen shots of Canadian landscape to enjoy as well.

I saw this film at the Glasgow Film Theatre followed by a Q & A with the cast (bar Tatiana) and it made me cry.

It is a road trip film following the relationship between a terminally ill doctor (Richard Dreyfuss) and a young carefree female (Tatiana Maslany). I wasn't sure what to expect from the trailer but the movie is funny and gets funnier as the dynamic between the two characters strengthens, however there are also some very emotional parts in the movie and it's hard not to shed a tear or two. As the film develops you learn a little bit more about each of the characters and how they could learn a thing or to from each other. It's a charming movie with wonderful acting throughout and a strong directorial debut for Jason Priestley.

Cas Pepper (Richard Dreyfuss) is a 30 year veteran doctor in a Winnipeg hospital who is suffering some sort of life changing experience. His dog dies. Dylan Morgan (Tatiana Maslany) is a talkative compulsively-lying writer who spends her time in the hospital getting inspiration. Cas reluctantly drives her home. She leaves her notebook in his car, and even more reluctantly, he goes back to return her book. Her boyfriend Bobby comes chasing her out with a gun. Cas hits Bobby with the car and they both go on the run. He's going west. Dylan finds that Cas is trying to write some sort of end-of-life note. Both are holding onto their secrets. Oh and Bobby's not really hurt.

Tatiana is playing the MPDG role except without the romance. She's great at this manic character. She has some hilarious lines. Richard Dreyfuss is playing the straight man reminiscent of 'What About Bob?'. They're both great at their roles. It's a fun road movie mostly for the two actors involved. Jason Priestley is a competent director. He's not really showing anything special but it looks very professional despite it being a low budget indie. I would like a few more dramatic scenes to build to the final act and dig into Cas' past a little more. Both actors are able to transition well nevertheless.

I love road trip movies, mismatched pairs, and irrepressible young women. this movie has them all plus the old pro, Richard Dreyfuss, perfect as the loner-curmudgeon. Hard to see how any man could resist the looks and charm of his female co-star, also. The movie does not attempt to have Big Meaning, but should be enjoyed on its own terms. Also, some nice scenery on the journey. The story is well-paced with no overly long scenes. it will not appeal to those of the hard-boiled, real life school, although it does have a good measure of that. But it is mixed with the whimsy. You can see the relationship between the two actors develop throughout the trip and that is the heart of the story.

This seemed silly and contrived at first but instead turned into one of those little Canadian movies that work. The cross-Canada scenery of wheat fields, lakes, mountains and sunsets didn't hurt either. Both acting leads were very good.