Land Ho!

Greetings again from the darkness. Extra credit goes to the writer/director team of Martha Stephens and Aaron Katz for their indie spirit and unique character-driven adventure - a rare Iceland based comedy. The former Film School classmates bring color of personality and color of terrain to the forefront.

Mitch (Earl Lynn Nelson) and Colin (Paul Eenhoorn) are former brothers-in-law, once married to sisters. The polar opposites are each battling loneliness and aging, and Mitch (the gregarious one) basically forces Colin (the reserved one) into a spontaneous vacation with him to Iceland. After this, we watch what amounts to a an AARP Road Trip Buddy film.

Mitch's bravura masks his loss of purpose and fear of mortality, while Colin mostly just shakes his head at each vulgar thought spoken without filter by Mitch. Despite the obvious differences in personality, the two come across as real guys soaking up the adventure. While Colin enjoys his solo hike that ends with a dip in the hot springs, Mitch sips his scotch while pestering a honeymooning couple (one of which is played by well known cinematographer Ben Kasulke) with questions about their private time in the room. He means no harm, he just thrives on fun ... whether it's his or someone else's.

Mitch and Colin have a definite on screen connection, and what makes this fascinating is that while Paul Eenhoorn is an established Australian actor, Earl Lynn Nelson is a real life retired surgeon who has only recently begun acting. Mr. Nelson's comfort in front of the camera is obvious whether he is telling his much younger cousin she has a "hot ass", or toking on weed at the hotel. Many long time actors would have struggled in this role, but Nelson ... while not always likable, leaves no doubt about his search for fun.

Other than the two lead actors, the landscape of Iceland is a key to the look and feel of the film. The panoramas are beautifully filmed, and if somehow a few people actually see the film, it would not be surprising is Iceland tourism spikes. Though the film offers no life lessons, and offers little in defense of "getting old sucks", this little senior citizen character study is a worthy entry into the "gray cinema" genre.

Was lucky enough to have seen the premier at Sundance. Since it does not feel like the kind of flick that will find mass distribution, there is no telling where or when you might get the opportunity to see this movie, but if indeed you get that chance - do not miss it! A straightforward theme with a nominal plot made up of a number of nearly free-standing scenes and only a couple where chronology is all that important. The cast, sound, cinematography, direction, writing and featuring the magnificent scenery of Iceland were all wonderful and Earl Lynn Nelson is a treasure. The scene in the museum (ad libbed according to members of the cast) alone is worth the price of admission. Four of us 50-somethings saw it together and it was a long time after we left the theater before any of us could stop smiling. That's entertainment!

Land Ho! Is a very pleasant surprise. Coming into the movie, I had zero expectations, since I had never heard of the film prior, and a movie about two old men embarking on a journey through Iceland, sounded like something that could have been boring for me. However, great chemistry between the two leads (Earl Lynn Nelson and Paul Eenhoorn), along with an emphasis of character than story, and a lot of very funny but vulgar humor, made Land Ho! was a pleasant surprise for me.

Land Ho! is a film that starts out in The U.S. (the opening scenes were filmed in Kentucky), and winds up going to Iceland after the first fifteen minutes of the film. Telling the story of two brother-in-laws named Mitch (his full name is Leslie Mitchell, but he prefers Mitch because he finds Leslie to be a girl's name), and Colin, an Australian, who decide to go through Iceland in an attempt to reclaim their youth. They go through Reykjavik nightclubs, spas, and campsites. This film is supposed to be a throwback to the 1980's road trip comedies, as well as an exploration of age and friendship. Mitch and Colin are still friends in the film all the way through, despite their differences and arguments.

As mentioned already, Land Ho! is a joy to watch, but what it makes it work is the actor's chemistry with each other. As played by Nelson and Eenhoorn, Mitch and Colin are believable as old acquaintances and best friends. The two bicker and argue in the film, but they still laugh and have a good time with each other. I especially like the movie references they give (of which the film has plenty of), including Sleepless in Seattle, Rio Bravo and Pretty Woman. Those were fun to hear and catch, as was the rest of the film.

The movie itself is put into three different sequences, referring to where the two are traveling. These include, The Golden Circle, Land Manga, and Laughter. Some of the plot concerns Mitch seeing his younger cousin (who refers to him as uncle, even though they are second cousins), who is visiting Iceland. The other parts of the plot concern Mitch and Colin getting caught up in some wacky shenanigans, like in an assuming scene where the two get lost in the dark after being outside and are trying to get back to their hotel, but can't see and eventually end up sleeping in the woods at night; very amusing scene.

The humor in Land Ho! comes from the characters interactions with each other. Director and writer team Aaron Katz and Martha Stephens clearly have a good idea on how to create genuine humor. Mitch and Colin, or either one or the other are the focus of the film 100% of the time, which is a good thing, and adds to the humor and interaction. Quotes such as "angels pissing on your tongue" and the use of the words "balls" in a particular scene, had me and the audience cracking up, as we were already enjoying the rest of the film. Another funny scene occurs when Mitch and Colin are in the water swimming around. Colin does his best Johnny Weissmuller Tarzans' scream impersonation. The film's dialogue and humor can be very vulgar at times, so it may not be for everyone, even if the film itself is harmless in terms of actual imagery.

Land Ho! is an enjoyable, road adventure comedy. It's not the greatest movie ever, but as a piece of entertainment, it works extremely well. The actors' chemistry, along with the humor, helps to make the film enjoyable to watch. You don't see many road movies like Land-Ho made these days.

Imagine your ex-brother-in-law invites you on a trip to Iceland: first-class air tickets, nice hotels, good restaurants, a comfortable rented van. Now imagine your ex-brother-in-law is a dirty old man, obsessed with younger women, who spouts unwanted unsolicited advise, and is a generally all around annoying person. Unfortunately, Colin, portrayed by Paul Eenhoom, failed to remember those facets of Mitch, played by Earl Lynn Nelson, and ended up spending far too much time in his company. The audience will also find they have spent more time than necessary with Mitch, who may have a generous heart, but is a boorish companion. Written and directed by Aaron Katz and Martha Stephens, "Land Ho" is described as a road trip movie, but the film, which is short on road and long on talk, could be more aptly compared to "My Dinner with Andre" than to "Easy Rider," although Mitch does like to inhale regularly.

Obviously shot on a low budget, perhaps as a labor of love, the film is somewhat amateurish, the acting seemingly non-professional, and the writing unfocused. While set in glorious Iceland, the movie fails to celebrate the island's natural beauty. Instead, Mitch talks and talks, Colin listens and listens; the film might just have well cut the travel budget and been set in Ohio. Perhaps spending 90 minutes in the company of two elderly gentlemen, who share anecdotes and wisdom gleaned from their lives throughout a motor trip together, could have fueled an intriguing film. However, listening to Mitch impart silly advice to embarrassed newly weds, offer tips on dressing to an embarrassed niece, or graphically describe women to an embarrassed Colin wears thin. While "Land Ho" is earnest and not truly bad, the movie is overly talky, and the audience will leave both admiring the tolerant Colin for his infinite patience and hoping no ex-in-laws show up with similar offers of "free" travel.

Two aging ex-brothers in law - the extroverted, lovable and slightly embarrassing Mitch, and the more introverted, sad-sack Colin take off for a getaway to Iceland. Their adventures are low key and episodic, but the comic rapport between the two men makes it hard to stop smiling.

There's no big catharsis or lesson learned, no moment when the smiles turn to tears, nothing that screams 'important movie'. Just an enjoyable hour and a half spent with two eccentric old guys finding themselves and each other on the road in a strange place.

The film looks very nice for it's tiny budget, and the two lead performances by Earl Lynn Nelson (a surgeon in real life) and Paul Eenhoorn (an accomplished Australian actor) create a fun naturalism that feels as authentic as if it was all improvised, with us just listening in on these two quite lovable older men.