2006’s surprise hit met, as surprise hits often do, with a rather cruel and unfortunate backlash – particularly after its Best Picture Oscar nomination. It’s actually a real winner of a road movie, with terrific performances and a warm finale, and a smart, genuine script which keeps things on the road no matter how “quirky” it threatens to get. Steve Carrell is surprisingly restrained in his role as the highest regarded Proust scholar in the US, but it’s Alan Arkin who is most impressive as the crotchety, profane, drug addict grandfather.
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