The Joyriders (1999)

Memorable film... excellent performances

This is a must have! I don't buy a lot of movies, but this is one I had to buy, I remembered watching it randomly 2 years ago and went on a quest to find it on DVD. I'm glad I did. It's funny but deep as well. One of the most interesting stories I've seen. While I would stop short of calling it a Christian movie, it has a great moral message to it. Buy it and you won't be disappointed. Young people like me will relate to the kids while older heads can relate to Martin Landau's character. The DVD includes a really good interview with Landau as well. I wanted it in my collection to entertain my friends with something unexpected. March 8, 2007

joyriders

has it all tears laughter like the characters and hate the characters as movies goes along March 8, 2007

Friendship and Redemption

A moving drama about depressed and hopeless Gordon Trout (Landau in an outstanding performance) who is about to end it all. Fate intervenes in the form of 3 homeless teenagers who need a ride home from the mall, where Gordon has just purchased a firearm in preparation for his suicide attempt. Without a place to spend the night, the teens hitch a ride with Landau "Fish Man" who is less suspicious than annoyed by the teens. By the time Gordon catches on to the teens' flimsy plan to head south, he's been "kidnapped" and becomes a passenger for the duration of the trip. Jodi, the most insightful and compassionate of the three teens elicits empathy from Gordon and despite his attempts to notify police of his "kidnapping", Gordon is powerless to stop the journey. Along the way, Gordon finds meaning and purpose without any cheesy or touching displays of emotion from any of the aforementioned characters and looks 15 years younger than he did at the beginning of the film. A great movie for young teenagers and parents to watch together. January 10, 2006

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