The road trip movie is a classic sub-genre that Hollywood always loves to come back to, and there’s a good reason for that. The best road trip movies offer time and room for characters and themes to fully reveal themselves, with the conflict amplified by a lengthy journey, confined space and new settings. Its latest addition is the equally witty and poignant Canadian film Drive Back Home.
It’s the 1970s, and homosexuality although decriminalised, is not widely accepted. Weldon (Charlie Creed-Miles) is a reserved and somewhat grumpy plumber living a quiet life in rural New Brunswick. One night, he receives a phone call from the police in Toronto. His estranged brother, Perley (Alan Cumming), has been arrested for having sex with another man in a public park. Due to the demands of his stubborn mother Adelaide (Clare Coulter), Weldon drives down to Toronto to bail out his brother and bring him back to New Brunswick. Perley, a larger-than-life presence, hasn’t returned home for some time due to his recently deceased and abusive father. The siblings’ personalities clash as they are forced to reckon with the past on their ‘drive back home’.
Inspired by the true events of director Michael Clowater’s grandfather and great uncle, Drive Back Home is as funny as it is melancholy. It quickly becomes clear that the heart of the film is the relationship between Weldon and Perely, focusing on the sharp contrast between each of their characters. Weldon is so sheltered and afraid of the outside world that he loads up on gas cans before his trip, so he doesn’t have to stop in Quebec where everybody speaks French. Meanwhile, Perley is flamboyant and bold, never leaving anywhere without carrying his beloved taxidermy pug. The dynamic between them is delightfully endearing.
While the Drive Back Home initially disguises itself as a quirky dramedy, it doesn’t become apparent just how hard it aims to hit emotionally until the film’s second half. Clowater authentically replicates a time full of hate and close-mindedness, where gay people were punished simply for existing. This experience is seen through the eyes of Perley and is brought to life by a complex performance from Alan Cumming that is as funny as it is devastating. Perely is unabashedly himself despite the ignorance around him, but when his close-minded brother assures him that he isn’t a particular homophobic slur, the pain he radiates is palpable. Some intense scenes featuring homophobic violence from Perely’s past are difficult to watch, but there’s enough levity sprinkled throughout the film to balance these out. While Cumming steals the show, Creed-Miles also delivers a nuanced and powerful turn.
Drive Back Home doesn’t offer anything particularly new in terms of the road trip movie or LGBTQ+ stories, occasionally falling into conventional trappings. Its pacing could have also benefited from a little tightening, but it will undoubtedly win audiences over thanks to the wonderful performances and timely reflection on being true to oneself.
Drive Back Home is showing at the Mardi Gras Film Festival, you can purchase tickets here
Marvel Studios unveiled a new trailer for "Thunderbolts*" during the Super Bowl. The film features a team of antiheroes, including Yelena Belova and Bucky Barnes, who face a life-threatening challenge orchestrated by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. The movie, scored by Son Lux, is set for release in Australia on May 1, 2025.
Steven Soderbergh's film Presence offers a unique twist on the haunted house genre, shot entirely from the ghost's perspective. The story follows a family grappling with grief, particularly Chloe, who senses a presence in their home. While the POV technique adds intrigue, the film leans more toward family drama than horror, delivering a slow-burn experience.
Paramount Animation is set to release a new Smurfs film featuring a fresh animation style and a star-studded voice cast, including Rihanna and John Goodman. The story follows Smurfette as she leads the Smurfs to rescue Papa Smurf from evil wizards. The film is scheduled for a July 10 release.
The road trip movie is a classic sub-genre that Hollywood always loves to come back to, and there's a good reason for that. The best road trip movies offer time and room for characters and themes to fully reveal themselves, with the conflict amplified...Drive Back Home Review