Dodson's Journey

I watched this movie for David James Elliot I believe him to be an incredible actor. It was cute how while teaching his daughter to fish he was reciting poetry. Being a writer I always try to rewrite movies while I am watching them. But this one was definitely written perfectly and their adventures were definitely entertaining, I probably could not watch this movie again knowing the ending. However I was surprised to see it end the way it did. So if you are in the mood for laughing, crying and David James Elliot I definitely recommend Dodson's Journey.

James (David James Elliott) and his wife, Meredith (Penelope Ann Miller) are on a picnic with their children, when the movie starts. Older child Maggie (Alicia Morton) and younger son Jack seem to be having a great time with their folks, although Jack is upset when he asks for ketchup and gets mustard from his mom. Could Meredith be distracted? Not long after, James' beloved father dies, Opti (Robert Loggia) and James takes it hard. Fast forward. Now, a year later, we see that James' extended grief has put the couple in counseling for a year but, to no avail. Meredith wants a divorce. Stung, James decides to take Maggie on a camping trip, like ones he used to enjoy with Opti, leaving Jack and Meredith to have some quality time at home. At first, Maggie doesn't like sleeping in a tent or fishing. But, soon, father and daughter are having a quietly significant adventure. The scenery is beautiful beyond measure and they meet up with a bevy of characters. Will James and Maggie find peace, a peace that will help them accept the future changes? This is lovely film, but hardly entertaining, being very sad. The performances are quite good, however, and the wilderness venues are breathtaking. With a thoughtful script and a deft direction, the film is certainly of fine quality. Those experiencing any loss, from death to divorce themselves, will benefit from a showing. Others may find it intriguing, too, but everyone should be prepared to cry, not laugh.

Man rediscovers his yearning to be a backwoodsman when his wife decides that life with him and his two kids is not enough for her, despite their apparent material comfort.

I am not sure how realistic this is but I am sure it shows how that, divorce is ALWAYS painful for children and that we should be very sure before we begat them that our partner is the person we will want to be with for ever even, when we and they get older, more distant and crotchety.

It is perhaps a film for a couple to watch if they are thinking of conception, especially if the conception is aimed to bring them together.

It could be quite a good film for kids to see whose parents have divorced, although I guess that comparatively few children live in such comfort and have a Dad who will devote several, (we were not told how long but I estimate 3 or 4) weeks on a trip with one child.

As well as all this stuff about the implications of divorce, we were introduced to the death of a parent and grandparent, learning about the lives of our ancestors, in this case native Americans, Lesbian marriage, making friends with those who have different life styles to us.

This is distorted, I enjoyed it and was moved by the acting skills of the young woman who was about 14 but playing a very believable 10 year old.

A film for a quiet afternoon and about half a box of tissues, I was sufficiently gripped not to answer my phone because I did not want to miss it!

James is dealing with the end of his marriage and the death of his father, and he must also help his daughter Maggie deal with having her life shaken up. So the father and daughter go on a journey where they do much more than fish. Along the way, James gets to 'visit' with his deceased father, James and Maggie learn a lot about each other, and Maggie discovers more about herself by learning about her Native American heritage. Naturally, Maggie gets upset a few times because she doesn't want her parents' marriage to end, but overall it is a pleasant journey.

Except for a nudist couple (who are seen from a distance) and some salty language that I considered unnecessary, this could be regarded as a family movie.

It was a pretty standard TV-movie, but enjoyable. With great scenery.

Following the death of his father and the ongoing collapse of his marriage, James Dobson decides to get some time apart from his wife by taking his eldest child, Maggie, away to teach her fly fishing in the same way that his father once did with him. The pair set off on the road, leaving Meredith back at home with their son, pouring over memories and packing up James's stuff for him to leave. As they learn to fish, James and Maggie come across a lot of strange characters and get close – but all the time James is aware that things are changing and he may never have what he once had. Lost in thought for much of the trip, James is forced to confront the past with visits from his father.

I'm not really a daytime TV movie sort of guy but I was sufficiently attracted by this film to tape it for later viewing. Despite always being the bottom of my watch list, I eventually got around to seeing it and, for all its sentimental weaknesses this turned out to actually be quite an enjoyable little film. The basic plot involves bonding with kids, communicating with parents and overcoming a broken marriage – pretty standard fare for daytime TV, all we needed was some sort of terminal illness and we'd have all the elements (although, maybe Opti covers that). The story is pretty sentimental but it mostly avoids being overly cloying and doesn't just go for the big solution for everything – people die and marriages end, the film doesn't try to hide away from that, although everything is taken so calmly in the film that it is easy to complain that it is just plain unrealistic.

The dialogue doesn't help this impression because it is far too clean, far too perfect to exist anywhere except on the page of a script. At times it is actually rather touching but too much of it is just corny and nothing that real people actually say. Of course, this makes it suited to a sentimental little family drama for television and, despite not being realistic, much of the dialogue is sweet and nice to listen to. The story may not really go anywhere and the lessons are too simple to really make for a good film but it still works just about – although those not used to this sort of film will struggle with its slow pace and rather sentimental delivery.

The cast also go down this route and are all on the same sticky page. Elliot is a very good looking guy but he to easily succumbs to the temptation to cock his head and half smile in his close ups! In a few scenes he is very good considering what he is given but mainly he just matches the calm, sweet material. Morton is very good and, despite the requirements of the script, mostly avoids being overly-cute. The support cast is secondary to these two but features good turns from Miller, Loggia and Burstyn.

Overall, a sweet, sentimental and obvious TV drama but not without charm. The material doesn't sell out for emotional payoffs to the extent it could have done and although the script is not convincing as real words, it is sweet and matches the overall tone set by the rest of the film. Definitely not one for cynics but viewers with patience and a high mush tolerance will likely love it.