This simple movie focuses on the 4 generations of the men in the Lair family. It opens with 3 of them -- great grandfather Henry (Michael Caine), father Jason (Josh Lucas), and son Zach (cute little Jonah Bobo). Only the grandfather, Turner (Christopher Walken) is missing. We realize this when he shows up, the first time he has been seen in 30 years. While Jason wants some answers, Turner just refers to that as ancient history and wants to talk about today. I have never been disappointed in a role of Christopher Walken's, and this one is not exception. While all the actors are adequate, Walken is the one who makes the movie interesting, these 4 generations of Lair man trying to be a family again. Glenne Hedley has a whimsical role as a Danish nanny caring for Henry. Worth a watch.
SPOILERS. Turner had been in prison for theft and when he shows up everyone assumes he has been released. But he was in a hospital for dialysis from kidney failure and he just walked out, and planned to stop and see his family on the way to a spot near the Mexico border. But his travel was delayed when old Henry dies suddenly, leaves a handwritten will, and instructions for the other 3 to take his ashes (along with the dog's) on a road trip to scatter at various places, as a requirement for his will to be valid. This reunites father and son and, Jason's limp wasn't really from an auto accident when he was young, instead his dad, Turner, a former drunk, had thrown him from some stairs. Turner wanted to get back to a particular cliff near Mexico where his son had been conceived, and died in the car right after his son drove him there.
SPOILERS. Turner had been in prison for theft and when he shows up everyone assumes he has been released. But he was in a hospital for dialysis from kidney failure and he just walked out, and planned to stop and see his family on the way to a spot near the Mexico border. But his travel was delayed when old Henry dies suddenly, leaves a handwritten will, and instructions for the other 3 to take his ashes (along with the dog's) on a road trip to scatter at various places, as a requirement for his will to be valid. This reunites father and son and, Jason's limp wasn't really from an auto accident when he was young, instead his dad, Turner, a former drunk, had thrown him from some stairs. Turner wanted to get back to a particular cliff near Mexico where his son had been conceived, and died in the car right after his son drove him there.