The Straight Story (11 October 1999)
directed by David Lynch
starring Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, Harry Dean Stanton, Everett McGill
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MPAA rating: Studio: Canal+, Channel Four Films, Walt Disney Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures Script: John Roach, Mary Sweeney Music: Angelo Badalamenti Running time: 111 minutes Suggested retail price: $19.99 (US) Tags: Drama; Family Crisis; Iowa; road trip; tractors; Wisconsin Tactical strength: [4/10]
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Imagine how bored would you get driving a riding lawn mower across Iowa? Now imagine watching a movie about a 73-year-old man driving a riding lawn mower across Iowa -- a serious movie, not a comedy. Now add a folksy violin ditty on an endless 30-second loop for 110 minutes of 5 mile-per-hour lawn mower adventures and you have The Straight Story.
Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth) learns that his estranged brother (Harry Dean Stanton) has had a stroke. Alvin decides that he must put the past aside and visit his brother in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, Alvin's hips require him to walk with two canes, and the state has revoked his driver's license for poor eyesight. As a stereotypical codger, Alvin decides he must make his own way across Iowa and chooses to take his riding lawn mower.
Along the way, we get to see the effect of Alvin's vast worldly wisdom as he interacts with people along the way. For example, Alvin convinces a pregnant runaway teenage girl that she should return to her family. In another scene, Alvin has camped with a group of bicyclists. One cycler asked him the worst part about old age, and Alvin replies, "Remembering when you were young." This poignant wisdom ended the scene. But these scenes of wisdom come infrequently and for the most part you just watch Alvin drive along the shoulder of Iowa back roads.
Even knowing that Alvin's story is true doesn't make it any more interesting. You sense that the director wants you to take great inspiration from this story of perseverance and determination, but the performances and the script don't deliver.
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