Wrecked (aka Scenic Route), 2013.
Directed by Kevin Goetz and Michael Goetz.
Starring Josh Duhamel, Dan Fogler, Miracle Laurie, Christie Burson, Peter Michael Goetz, Jamie Donovan and Ethan Maher.
SYNOPSIS:
Tensions rise between lifelong friends Mitchell and Carter after their truck breaks down on an isolated desert road as they start to attack each other’s life decisions with unwavering brutality.
It’s not unusual for an actor or actress to find themselves type cast. In any lengthy Hollywood career in which a star has found themselves treading one particular path, you can expect the occasional detour along the way. A detour that will see said star attempt to throw free the shackles of their genre prison and perhaps open up a new and exciting avenue. In years gone by there have been plenty of examples; Robin Williams turning from teary eyed clown to disturbed villain, or Sly Stallone deciding comedy might be a good idea, only to do Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot, to name a couple. In Wrecked we have not only one actor, but two, who are attempting to branch out into darker territory than their usual.
Josh Duhamel has made his name from an easy smile and poster boy looks which have served him well in a heroic role in the Transformers series, as well as a number of romantic comedies. Then there is Dan Fogler who one might call a poor man’s Jack Black if one were feeling a bit naughty. In Wrecked both men are given the task of carrying the weight of an entire movie on their shoulders, and one in which the dramatic aspects are paramount over the comical.
Duhamel and Fogler star as Mitchell and Carter respectively, two friends since high school who have become ever more distant through adulthood. Mitchell is a hard working businessman with a young family (but seemingly unfulfilled) whilst Carter has barely grown up, remaining work shy and with his head in the clouds. On a road-trip together their truck breaks down in the middle of the desert. Tensions rise, with Carter persistently questioning Mitchell’s relationship with his wife and his new corporate mentality. As the film transpires it’s revealed that Carter faked the breakdown in order to have a proper discussion with Mitchell, but then the truck really does breakdown (of course). Violence erupts and their very lives and and sanity fall apart.
As thrillers go this is fairly middle of the road. There’s not quite enough depth here with the characters, and whilst Duhamel and Fogler handle the material ably, they’re not quite strong enough to elevate the film to another level. The screenplay by Kyle Killen ticks off boxes without adding anything new. Directors, Michael and Kevin Goetz handle proceedings solidly, without really injecting enough energy in a lagging middle third, whilst the denouement seems forced. The film is nicely shot and the locations are suitably desolate and hopeless, but even so, if you can’t make Death Valley look good on film, then you shouldn’t be in the cinematography business.
In all, Wrecked is a routine, by the numbers thriller, that’s solidly made and will provide a passable viewing. It’s at least an interesting change of direction for the two leads, but not inspiring enough to suggest the change could be more permanent.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Tom Jolliffe
