The Way is an earnest father/son movie that entertains in many ways

The Way is the story about Tom (Martin Sheen), an American father who’s living a simple, successful life in California as an optometrist.  Tom’s son, Daniel (Emilio Estevez) is killed in an accident while walking “El Camino de Santiago”, a 500 mile trail that crosses from France into Spain.  Estevez doesn’t appear in the movie much, but did direct it.  After Tom arrives in France to collect the body he decides to embark on the pilgrimage that his son was doing.  Along the way Tom meets some fellow travelers who have their own reasons for doing the trek.

Initially I was a bit nervous that The Way would be a travelogue’s version of My Dinner With Andre.  While that movie has its fans, it also has its share of critics who saw it as a boring, plodding experience  watching two men share a meal and a very, very long dialogue.   Thankfully The Way has more in common with The Wizard of Oz, than Andre.

The Way is partially a travelogue as it documents the travels of Tom and his three new friends along The Camino.  Each typical traveling personality is represented, the jolly traveler, the bitter-yet likeable traveler and the person that has traveled everywhere.  The scenery along The Camino is very pretty and will certainly boost the area’s tourism.

The Way is also a father/son film.  Tom is taking Daniel’s ashes along The Camino and spreading bits at picturesque stops.   Daniel appears to Tom at various points along The Camino including the spot where he died, when Tom gets arrested, dinner at a hostel and swinging the Botafumeiro at the Cathedral de Santiago.  These visions are well done because only Tom can only see Daniel and they don’t involve any talking, a la, from beyond the grave.

Tom initially embarks on The Camino to do what his son would’ve wanted him to do and in an effort to learn more about him.  As a dad-and a son, that registered with me.  I traveled for a number of years and my father never understood why I wanted to experience cultures or languages that I didn’t understand.   My father’s questions would not have stopped me from traveling, but they may have brought me home sooner than I did on my own.

Dads can’t control their sons, but they can understand why they’re doing something, even if it doesn’t make any sense to them.  Tom didn’t understand why Daniel needed to travel and never bothered to question why he needed to experience them.

There are some Catholic undertones to The Way as the finishing point for The Camino is the resting spot of St. James.    Tom is casually searching for religion, but didn’t start The Camino for that purpose.  Everyone that he meets along the way is there for a certain reason.  Some of the reasons for the pilgrimage are religious, some aren’t.  This isn’t an overtly religious film.  It’s not preachy it because you think that it is.

The Way is a slow moving, simple movie that emphasizes story and character.  The beauty in the movie is that it isn’t melodramatic or boring.  You start to care about each of the characters personality quirks as they walk in and out of Spanish vistas.  The Way is a movie that will stimulate conversation about travel, family, friendship and religion.  Some people will think it’s all about one subject, while others may not even grasp the subject that somebody else found so stimulating.   The Way may not be THE way for moviegoers, but it is a very enjoyable diversion from the usual movies that are released.

The Way starts in selected cities on October 7, nationwide on October 14 and is rated PG-13.