You’d be forgiven for expecting Road Movie to be a Tarantino-esque swear and gore fest, but it’s not. Instead this inspirational play takes a closer look at the relatively mundane lives of wannabe indie directors/video store clerks.
The main story is slightly confused, with the narrative skipping back and forward slightly and in and out of reality. At times it’s hard to tell what is real and what is confused internal monologue, but the overall effect isn’t affected.
While Whitfield and Williams’ play isn’t laugh out loud funny, the dialogue does poke fun, often in a very snide way, at the know-it-all filmmakers that fill media courses around the globe. To this end, the short films integrated into this production could so easily be dismissed as meaningless, self-indulgent student claptrap if viewed alone, but their inclusion is extremely justified and integral to the story. Though it must be said that Murderous Park Baby is a treat.
Road Movie sets out to dispense with the common misconception that a road movie and concentrates on the metaphorical journey of self-discovery that Alex faces. Unfortunately the story is often confusing rather than enchanting and the baby tends to overshadow Whitfield’s solid performance.
3/5
Richard Biggs
