Bonneville Review

Cast: Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Joan Allen, Tom Skerritt, Christine Baranski, Victor Rasuk
Director: Christopher N. Rowley
Screenplay: Daniel D. Davis
Genre: Drama
Rated: PG Infrequent mild coarse language
Released: 28 August 2008
Running Time: 93 Minutes

Synopsis:
Faced with the decision of a lifetime, Arvilla Holden (Jessica Lange) loads up her 1966 Bonneville convertible and, with her friends (Joan Allen and Kathy Bates) in tow, sets out from Pocatello, Idaho, en route to Santa Barbara.

As they detour to spots like Bryce Canyon and Las Vegas, it doesn't take long for the women to realise Arvilla has something unexpected in store. But what none of them realise is that what began as a simple trip will end up becoming a chance to rediscover themselves, their friendship, the importance of promises - and of letting go. Also starring Tom Skerritt and Christine Baranski, Bonneville unites three of the most acclaimed actresses of our time in a story that celebrates fun, adventure and living life to the fullest.

My Verdict:
Arvilla Holden (Jessica Lange) arrives home alone after her husband of 20 years Joe, has just died, carrying his ashes close to her. She intends to scatter Joe's ashes according to his wishes but her stepdaughter Francine (Christine Baranski) arrives for the wake and informs Arvilla that she wants daddy to "come home" - from Pocatello, Idaho to Santa Barbara, California, for a service there. Francine also tells Arvilla she will be selling the home she and Joe shared as no new will can be found, unless Arvilla is willing to give Joe's ashes to Francine. Arvilla is torn between her respect for Joe's wishes and her need to keep the home she and Joe shared but eventually relents and decides to give Joe's ashes to Francine, heading off in Joe's 1966 Bonneville convertible, along with her two best friends, the recently widowed Margene (Kathy Bates) and the uptight, conservative Mormon, Carol (Joan Allen). This soon becomes one road trip that will change all their lives.

Arvilla had intended to fly to deliver Joe's ashes, but takes a detour and so Bonneville becomes a road trip movie but without any of the usual tacky, slapstick humour that often accompanies them. Lange, Allen and Bates are three very classy actors who provide the essential elements for the trip without any need for the script to resort to sex or violence. The scenery for the trip inspires the women for many reasons, including the Salt Flats of Utah and Bryce Canyon as well as a metropolitan visit to Las Vegas. A few characters are also met along the way including the young hitchhiking Bo (Victor Rasuk) and truckie Emmett (Tom Skerritt) and finally a few minor catastrophes occur to complete the setting.

Jessica Lange effortlessly conveys the emotional confusion of her character, often appearing on the verge of completely breaking down to one of stoic strength through courage and determination with a hint of defiance. Kathy Bates gets to play a character that wants to seem tough on the outside but has a soft inner soul and of course she breezes through that role easily. Joan Allen is perfect as the always-right Carol, a person who rarely steps outside the box or dips their toes in the sand but with maybe just enough nerve to try. Christine Baranski is the snobby, superior stepdaughter and pretty much plays it straight with ease.

Bonneville is a very easy movie to sit through that has a few lighter moments to stop it from sinking into melodrama. It is slow at times (but then again the trip is 2600 kms so you'd have to expect that) but it still moves forward and you do want to know if the women make it and just where Joe's ashes will go. It is not particularly extraordinary but it is still a very pleasant trip to take.

Rating : ***

Christina Bruce