Writer-director Lochlainn McKenna’s Two For The Road is essentially a two-hander. Father Hugh (Steve Wall) has his son, Oscar (Ewan Morris), every weekend. This particular visit sees the two plan for a little hiking and camping trip. But along the way to the woods, the family members stop at a pub for a bite to eat. And this leads Hugh to a few more drinks than he should have. Will Oscar still get real bonding time with his father, or has Hugh bungled the weekend visit for the last time?
“…along the way to the woods, the family members stop at a pub…”
At a quick 18 minutes, Two For The Road establishes the core relationship very well. Wall and Morris are natural together, projecting a lived-in chemistry that instantly makes Hugh and Oscar feel like a real dysfunctional family. The ending speech Wall gives is outstanding and sells the impact McKenna’s narrative is aiming for.
Two For The Road is a deep look at how one with the best of intentions can still mess up. The lead actors are excellent both together and separately. Sometimes, the most resonant stories are the most simply told.
For more information, visit the official Two For The Road site.
"…projecting a lived-in chemistry that instantly makes Hugh and Oscar feel like a real dysfunctional family."
I just saw the movie at the Newport Beach Gilm Festival 2023. I felt like I was watching a movie from years ago. It reveals bits and pieces as needed to fill in the blanks of the bigger picture. The two actors are complimentary in their own complexity. Brilliant thought provoking gem.