Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Mark Raso, Netflix Film & 20th Century Fox, M 105 Minutes.
In only his second feature film director Mark Raso has delivered a thought-provoking drama on a difficult relationship between father and son during their road trip to the last photo lab before it closes its doors.
Based on A.G. Sulzberger’s 2010 article “For Kodachrome Fans, Road Ends at Photo Lab in Kansas” the movie is essentially decrying the discontinuation of Kodak’s Kodachrome lab in Kansas before shutting down for the final time.
Set against this backdrop is the dying father Ben (Ed Harris –‘Geostorm’) a renowned photographer eager to encourage his estranged son Matt (Jason Sudeikis –‘Downsizing’) in accompanying him on his final trip together with his nurse Zoe (Elizabeth Olsen –‘Avengers Infinity War’).
After Zoe’s personal approach, Matt (a struggling music executive) reluctantly agrees to drive his father across the country from New York to Dwayne’s photo lab in Parsons, Kansas, the last place open to develop Ben’s rolls of Kodachrome film.
Along the way they pop into the place where Matt’s uncle Dean (Bruce Greenwood –‘The Post’) lives, a person who has had a problematic relationship with his brother Ben before leaving for Parsons reaching the photo lab just in time.
It is only at the point of seeing Ben slowly succumbing to his terminal illness that Matt and his father finally reconcile their differences which was long sought after by both during their estrangement.
Razo’s reflective production is more than a road movie focusing on a selfish and sharp-tongued father desperate to engage with his estranged son in his dying days by embarking on a road trip together to develop his Kodachrome films.
Despite the emotive storyline it is an uplifting experience in view of the impressive performances of Harris with his stand-out portrayal of Ben including that of Sudeikis as his son Matt not to mention the rest of the cast.
Vic’s Verdict: 3 Stars
