Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

bkoganbing The Open Road stars Jeff Bridges and Justin Timberlake as a pair of baseball players, father and son, at different stages of their careers. They've been estranged for many years, but a health crisis in the life of Mary Steenburgen, wife to Bridges and mother to Timberlake, forces a reconciliation of sorts. But it's not an easy one.Bridges is a former star who may have just missed the era of free agency and all he knows is baseball. So he now makes a comfortable living at various card shows, telling stories and signing autographs all of which he's well paid. When the crisis comes he's at a show and leaving abruptly would cost him some bucks. Still there is family to consider, something he's not very good at.Timberlake is a minor league prospect who shows that he might not reach the same heights as Bridges. In fact he's in danger of being cut from the Houston Astros farm club where he's playing. He's got troubles with former girlfriend Kate Mara whom he broke it off with and now realizes that might have been a big mistake and worries now about the failed relationship with Mara and Steenburgen's health may have compromised his abilities. In short he's just not got his head in the game.In fact Timberlake leaves the team in Texas and goes north to Columbus, Ohio where Bridges is doing a show and he and Mara take him back albeit reluctantly to Texas because Steenburgen wants to see him for the very last time possibly before open heart surgery. You ask why Mara is along with her ex when she has a current boyfriend whom she plans to marry. Bridges gets it, but Timberlake is a bit dense.Not much of a story line, but some great characterizations by all involved. Bridges is his usual good reliable self and Timberlake shows some ability which blossoms later on in another baseball story Trouble With A Curve. Timberlake plays a similar role there in a film with a similar story. Of course Clint Eastwood's film got a much wider audience. Basically there's a lot of growing up to do for both Bridges and Timberlake. Baseball is great, but it's not the whole of life for both of them. Timberlake keeps a journal because writing is a sideline for him. I can see him being a future Jim Brosnan or Jim Bouton.This is not a baseball story as such, it's a story about life and the growth of people. You should really see this very unsung film.

jules beremsen This movie has it all revealed in the title; we have the typical road movie, the open situations that need closure, the family gathering when almost-tragedy might happen, the girl that almost got away, the father-son estranged yet reliable liaison, the change in the hero's mind along the way.And above that, it has the sparkling dialog, Jeff Bridges (I just love how he cries in most of his roles, because he can and he's so damn good), the wise replies that might (or not) mean something to you at some point. The open spaces, and a feel-good impression that will make it perfect for a late evening when you just don't feel like sleeping. Or you would feel like taking a long walk somewhere, only it would be wiser not to in the middle of the night.I probably shouldn't give it a ten, but grades "don't mean nothing" to me, it's all about whether I liked it or not, and I sure did like it.

bob-rutzel-1 About to undergo a delicate heart operation, Katherine (Steenburgen) asks her son Carlton (Timberlake) to get her estranged husband Kyle (Bridges) to come to her side in her hour of need. Long story short Carlton, Kyle and Lucy (Mara) drive to the hospital. And, here we have the theme: it's the journey that's important. This is not a comedy as was billed. This is light drama with no good lines and absolutely no comedic moments at all. Light drama is what we have here. But, I have never sat through a movie whereby there was tension from beginning to end. Yes, the situation all find themselves in does create tension. There is tension between Father and son who haven't seen each other in years; and between Carlton and Lucy and she isn't sure about Carlton anymore. And, Carlton, well, he isn't sure about anything. I fault the script not the acting. Kate Mara says more with her eyes than what the script gives her. Timberlake is new at this and on unsteady legs, but his character is supposed to act the way he does. Lyle Lovett plays a bartender and not bad, not bad at all. Ted Danson (real life husband of Steenburgen) has a cameo in the beginning. As for Jeff Bridges, he plays what he is given and does a good job of it. I still maintain he is one of our better actors. Hear that Mr. Eastwood? Morgan isn't the only one. One thing I didn't understand. If you are going to take a long trip why would you ever consider renting a gas guzzling Hummer. Yes, it was an H3, the smaller one, but still………….. Yes, I know it was only a movie. There are some dime-store philosophies given out at various moments, but nothing noteworthy to report. The journey thing trumps all and as you know journeys bond people. So there you have it: an okay Made-for-TV movie. Wait a minute. There was a light almost comedic moment. We got to see the internationally famous Peabody Ducks stroll into the Peabody Hotel in Memphis as they have been doing for years. They look all grown up now.Violence: No. Sex: No. Nudity: No Language: Some, not much

Sirus_the_Virus I know that this film didn't go to theaters. It's probably a good thing too. Because I thought it was very bad. It's slow, boring, and it's billed as a comedy. There is nothing funny about it. Now I rented this crap cause my sister thought it looked good. I didn't though. I knew she was going to be disappointed. I'll be damned I was right. You expect a lot more from Jeff Bridges and Mary Steenburgen. I expected this from Justin Timberlake. He was awful in that movie. Who am I kidding, everyone was. The whole movie was. Did I expect much from this film? No. That is probably a good thing. Because I thought it sucked.I love Jeff Bridges. And I love Mary Steenburgen. You can go tit for tat on Justin Timberlake. You can't go tit for tat on this film. You'll be bored while watching this. This film is not funny, it's rarely ever interesting, it's slow, and it's a mess. Please stay away from this film. It's awful.The Open road:*1/2 put of ****