Land Ho!

2014 "Come party with these guys!"
6| 1h36m| R| en
Details

Martha Stephens and Aaron Katz's buddy comedy Land Ho! follows former brothers-in-law Mitch (Earl Lynn Nelson) and Colin (Paul Eenhoorn) as they travel through Iceland. The pair of 70-year-olds find themselves in need of an adventure to break out of their rut, and soon the extroverted Mitch has talked Colin into the trip. Along the way they have various amorous encounters, and attempt to recapture the spirit of their youth.

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Unbound Feet Productions

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Reviews

Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.
Ceticultsot Beautiful, moving film.
Kailansorac Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.
Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.
mikasparky It made me laugh, it made me cringe. But I KNOW people like the characters in this movie, warts and all and that's why I found the film so appealing--in real life, not everyone speaks in complete sentences, or has a clever retort; sometimes, people are clumsy and there are awkward pauses--and there's plenty of that in this film. That might drive some people nuts, but I found it to be a feature, not a bug. The scenes of Iceland were breathtaking, it was like a travelogue in some respects, but (I keep coming back to this) I liked the dialogue; it seemed very unscripted, the way that real people talk. The conversations between the American and Australian ex-brothers in law were hilarious at times and annoying at other times, and poignant, still, at others, and the work just seemed more like a goofy reality-type documentary than a film. It will most assuredly NOT be to everyone's taste--it is a weird film, one feels almost like a voyeur watching it, but I found it a good use of my time. If your tastes are a bit oddball, you will get a kick out of this film--let it unroll at its own pace, ya can't force it...!
euroGary In 'Land Ho!', Mitch (Earl Lynn Nelson), a retired American surgeon who smokes pot and who calls women 'broads', inveigles his staider Australian former brother-in-law Colin (Paul Eenhoorn, who has the kind of familiar face that will have you thinking "Oh, wasn't he in... that thing... with the thing?") into taking a trip to Iceland, where the pair drive around in a massive car and have conversations. And that is about it as far as the plot goes.Judging by the naturalistic style of speaking (repeats, pauses etc), a lot of the conversation is ad-libbed. This doesn't work so well when other characters are involved - the segment where the retirees spend time with two much younger women is especially trying, largely because Karrie Crouse delivers her lines in such a drawling monotone the viewer has to resist the urge to yell at the screen "WAKE UP, WOMAN!" But when sharing the screen with nobody but each other, Nelson and Eenhoorn well convey the easy rapport between two men who have known each other for decades. I like the fact that the film avoids the big revelation so common in this sort of production (I was braced for one of the men to announce "This is going to be my last trip - the doctors have given me six months" or similar, but it didn't happen). The film does end rather abruptly, though.What is very apparent is the amount of product-placement: the shot of an Icelandair 'plane, the close-ups of Lonely Planet's Iceland guidebook, the mention of a real-life Reykjavík restaurant called 'Dill'. Not to mention the Icelandic scenery, lovingly shown in all its bleak interestingness. Unfortunately the 2014 London Film Festival showing I attended cut the credits (grr!) so I don't know whether Icelandair, Lonely Planet, Dill and/or the Icelandic Ministry of Tourism actually *did* sponsor the film; if they did, it would be interesting to know what came first: the idea for the film, or the sponsorship?
comicman117 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.
jdesando At the risk of sounding like a codger who needs an Icelandic trip with a bud, I found Land Ho! underwhelming. The barren but beautiful Icelandic landscape is lovely to see, and the girls in hot springs are, well, hot, but the two ancient mariners, Mitch (Earl Lynn Nelson) and Colin (Paul Eenhorn), have little enough wit to sustain an entire journey, much less a full film.Mitch (Earl Lynn Nelson), the wealthy surgeon, pays for the trip with his retired buddy, Colin (Paul Eenhoorn), that hits the popular spots, introduces them to some nice chicks with whom they have dinner, and lets them enjoy weed without conscience. As an elderly couple on the verge of existential renewal, Mitch is lively with a charming sense of humor and joie de vivre; Colin mostly broods about his divorce and lack of money. Except for a moment or two of philosophizing, it's small talk peppered with a few allusions to movies. So much for the realism, admirable but dull.Coincidentally, I recently saw Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon in The Trip to Italy, in which the two have a hilarious time impersonating actors and bandying about references to Byron and Shelley. Of course, even those travelers could not be that bright without rehearsal, even as natively-witted as they are. The joy I had was in the smart repartee and exhausting energy.In Land Ho! co-directors Aaron Katz and Martha Stephens spark up the proceedings with some peppy '80's or 8o's-like music ( e.g., Big Country and Monster Party), which works well against the ancient landscape and men.Land Ho!, however, moves at an old man's pace. The good thing for me is I'm able to recommend the film to my buddy, Keith, who is hot on our taking a trip to Iceland. Full disclosure: London is my favorite place on earth; Iceland would not rank.