I really like road trip/buddy movies because they offer so many possibilities for putting together unlikely travel partners who are going through unusual and often bizarre situations. And when filmmakers do these scenarios well, the results are frequently entertaining, thought-provoking, and above all, captivating. That's certainly true of writer-director Michael Clowater’s first feature film, a thoughtful, sensitive, funny, and touching story about two very different brothers on an unexpected road trip across Eastern Canada. This story, which takes place in 1970, follows Weldon (Charlie Creed-Miles), a grumpy, working-class plumber from a small town in New Brunswick, who finds out that his long-separated gay brother, Perley (Alan Cumming), has been arrested in Toronto on a morals charge for public indecency. The authorities offer Weldon the chance to get him released, with all charges dropped, if he agrees to pick him up and bring him back to his isolated hometown, essentially taking responsibility for him from the police. However, if Weldon refuses, Perley could face a five-year prison sentence, which is something he struggles to accept, especially when his energetic elderly mother (Clare Coulter) strongly pressures him into rescuing her son, motivated by her desire to atone for past regrets related to their family history. Despite being uncomfortable with the situation and the many inconveniences of driving 1,000 miles in an old, unreliable pickup truck, Weldon agrees and goes to Toronto to get his brother. After a somewhat tense reunion, they start the journey back to their shared roots, something Perley isn’t particularly looking forward to for various reasons. Their challenging trip is filled with highs and lows, laughter and arguments, as well as memories and revelations that test the relationship of these two mismatched brothers. Despite some moments feeling a little prolonged, they generally accomplish what they set out to do, delivering an engaging, charming but sometimes-dark story that’s sure to resonate emotionally and highlight their individual struggles, flaws, and personal growth. This is largely thanks to the excellent performances and character development of the two leads, whose believable chemistry feels completely genuine. Most importantly, like many successful road trip films, “Drive Back Home” effectively demonstrates how different personalities can develop and change over time through a shared experience, even between people who initially have opposing views of each other’s lives. This is easily one of the best movies from this year's Reeling Festival, and it’s definitely worth seeing.

Source on TMDB