I guess the movie had some good qualities, maybe the cinematography, but the acting was flat. The girl who played Emma (Lila Korkalo) was very good, but the parents were disjointed characters or bad actors, the uncle was a sad case of an alcoholic, untreated and living with a codependent depressive Sam (Chris Korkalo) who doesn't drink but buys beer for the alcoholic brother in law.
The premise was not viable, he drinks one time and gets his first DUI while the designated driver. He doesn't appear drunk, and his swerving was caused by the drunk passenger why wasn't the passenger ticketed, he is licensed? Then he losses his kid to the estranged mother in another state? If the judge were remotely concerned they would have made an effort to keep the child in the home state and supervise/educate the parent. Not dump a 12 yr old on the estranged mom in LA who has a brand new baby to contend with??? The father doesn't learn, he drives on a suspended license repeatedly. The scene at the gas station in nowhere was the best part, but even that was poorly acted/directed. Get a special lic dispensation in Vegas due to the circumstances. Hire a competent lawyer please. Clean your home up and kick the drunk out.
This could have benefitted from more happy bonding scenes eluded to in the ending credits,
And the hotel housekeeper, why enter a sexual preditor into the picture, why?
The hotel in Vegas, seriously I have been to Vegas with no reservations and paid under 100.00 for a room, off the strip. In June/July it is so hot, the place is half empty. No drunk party animal adventurer is going to sit in a crappy hotel room in Vegas with a six pack and a bottle of vodka with the Strip right there.
This is based on a book, maybe a lot was removed for this movie, but this left me waiting for it to get good. My hope was this was an attempt to give Lila a vehicle into acting, she and Mark Huber (Ben Affleck look alike) were the best of the cast, I hope she continues acting.
