I hate it when I write something off in my head, just to find out eventually that it's a true gem. Same happened with this one. It looked like Emilio Estevez wrote it in a hurry and called his pops, just so they could pay off all of Charlie's adventures. Now, even if that were the case, the film never suffered. Not for one second. It's strong, compelling and funny.
The story is an adventure. A life-changing journey which a father has to take in order to get to know his recently deceased and estranged son. During this unforgettable journey, he's forced to look back upon his stale, cold and calculated life, and get to grips with the discovery of a new self.
Frankly, I was sceptical about seeing Martin Sheen in the lead role, but the old bastard did it. He portrayed a strong, serious persona with a broken spirit in an incredible fashion. And, as if that display weren't enough, Estevez introduced him to a gang of soon to be life mates, with whom he presented some subtle humor with impeccable quality.
And, although the film is weaved with religious motifs, and the whole story indirectly revolves around religion, I still found it to be a wonderful piece of art. Estevez' storytelling is excellent and the way the film is put together really helps. The scenery, the smaller events and side-stories let you immerse into the story with incredible ease.
In the end, my only advice would be not to miss out on this one, because it will lift your adventurous spirit and fill you with strange joy.
8 out of 10.
