Ride the Eagle

Slacker musician Leif Reinhold (Jake Johnson) is told of his estranged mother Honey (Susan Sarandon)'s death. She leaves him her a large cabin but the conditional inheritance comes with many tasks to complete. One of the tasks is to call his former love Audrey (D'Arcy Carden). Carl (J. K. Simmons) is Honey's ex.

Jake and D'Arcy have a nice comedic chemistry even on the phone. I wouldn't them doing something more in another movie. The phone sex is fun. They have the same comedic sensibility. They could have done more in this movie like talk about their past relationship. It would have been fine to have them talked the whole movie. Jake and J. K. are also good but they are one person removed. There is always going to be a hole in the middle of their connection. This is a fine little indie.

This film manages to capture the essence of what love is between a mother and her son.

The story deals with self-improvement that will always make us rethink the course of our lives and what we want to do with it, it also raises the strong relationship between a mother and her son despite the harshness and difficulties they have, there will always be affection between the two. It manages to capture how it is to deal with the grief that you have with someone close despite not knowing each other, proving that it is always good to smooth things over with someone you love because when they are gone you will understand how much you miss them. In the film it is portrayed that we must always express our feelings with ourselves and with the people we love since life is short and we should not waste it, just as we should enjoy it and learn from our mistakes. The character development is complete, the performances are good, the humor used sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, the ending is very long even though it is satisfying and emotional.

Although at first the film seems predictable, I think it is very enjoyable to see this love between mother and son, and how we should take advantage of life since it is very short, and how our personal maturity will make us enjoy life.

1) I've written about the recent "rent an Airbnb and use it as a set for your indie film" phenomenon but this was actually done right. A huge part is because of competent actors and likeable/intriguing characters.

2) Free of the usual unnecessary agenda (except for a global warming vs politicians bit) which is refreshing from an American comedy these days.

3) Not a great deal of twists here but it's a comfy film for a great hang. All the 5 characters (dog included, since it got a lot of screen time) were superb with JK Simmons not having a lot to do and the ex gf's phone quips being my favorite.

First off, not sure if this was written as a pandemic movie, or if they had to adapt it to pandemic conditions, but conceptionally it works without a pandemic and that's awesome.

Second, I think the algorithm got me, suggesting this via Hulu from my internet searches. My mother just passed away from covid, and i've had to deal with her estate. I heavily suspect google provided that information to hulu.

And now on content, this movie hits home in alot of areas. My mother was a bit crazy, had secrets, and weird stuff that i've been having to deal with in just sending her off. It's not a conditional list, but I think most people who die before their 70s aren't as prepared as they should be. This leaves alot of unfinished things. This movie's turn of using a mother who knows she is near death to send her son on missions is much less tragic and opens itself to a pleasant, although not hilarious, comedy. The characters go through many things that i've had to, but with different details. The main character gets through this and is a better person on the end, its definitely heartening to have that presented to me at this point. Good stuff.

Leif is left his mother's cabin, but it comes with conditions, for him to inherit, he must complete a series of challenges that she's left him.

It's a very quirky, amusing, enjoyable film, it's light hearted, well meaning, it's happy to be a little bit different.

I can't say it's a raucous laugh out loud scream fest, it's not that kind of movie, but it is definitely an enjoyable watch. Jake Johnson is very good in the part, and as much as I hate the term, you really do see Leif embark on a journey.

The phone sex scene with Audrey was so funny, I watched with half a hand over my eyes, it was so cringe, but funny.

I love the fact that that was actually Jake Johnson's real life dog, you can see that there's a bond between the two.

Enjoyable. 7/10.