Review: Kodachrome

Inspired by A.G. Sulzberger's 2010 New York Times article, "For Kodachrome Fans, Road Ends at Photo Lab in Kansas," the road-trip dramedy Kodachrome doesn't offer anything new or insightful about human nature or the complex dynamics of father-son relationships. If anything, it seems happy to lean into its by-the-numbers narrative and, by suffusing it with warmth and appeal, actually turns its roteness and predictability into its greatest asset.

Matt Ryder (Jason Sudeikis) is a New York-based A&R man whose best days appear to be behind him. Though he may have the best ear of anyone in his office, his boss points out that he hasn't been reeling in any new clients. On the verge of being fired, Matt earns himself a stay of execution by promising to deliver the Spare 7's, one of the hottest bands around, to the label. Just as he's averted one disaster, he finds himself facing another when Zooey (Elizabeth Olsen) walks into his office, introduces herself as his estranged father's nurse and personal assistant, delivers the news that his father Ben (Ed Harris) is dying from cancer, and shares his father's dying wish: that Matt drive him to Kansas so that he can have some film rolls developed before the last Kodachrome photo shop shutters itself for good.

Naturally, Matt balks at the idea of spending any time with his father, whose career as a photographer resulted in his barely being a presence during Matt's childhood. Just as naturally, Matt agrees, especially when Ben's manager (Dennis Haysbert) says he can secure him a meeting with the Spare 7's. Of course, Zooey will have to play referee between the two, who prove themselves perfect practitioners of bitter exchanges. Unsurprisingly, Matt and Zooey share an attraction and, sure enough, Matt and Ben get to know one another in the limited amount of time they have left with one another.

Kodachrome benefits enormously from its lead trio, all of whom inject what could have been very stereotypical and one-dimensional characters with relative unsentimentality and a whole lot of heart. Sudeikis, in particular, deserves special mention as his portrayal of Matt is arguably the best dramatic work he's done to date.

Kodachrome

Directed by: Mark Raso

Written by: Jonathan Tropper; based on the 2010 New York Times article, "For Kodachrome Fans, Road Ends at Photo Lab in Kansas" by A.G. Sulzberger

Starring: Ed Harris, Jason Sudeikis, Elizabeth Olsen, Bruce Greenwood, Wendy Crewson, Dennis Haysbert