Director David Gordon Green is probably known to you as the director of crude comedies like 'Pineapple Express' and 'Your Highness'. David has taken time out from his crude side to make this little film about two guys on the road. Alvin and Lance are two road workers who are just fixing up a road after a bush fire has swept through the area. Basically putting in posts and painting new lines. This might sound rather boring but it is the characters that are doing this job which make it interesting. These are average guys but they have some interesting character traits which make them fun to be with. The fact they have a family connection, they are brothers-in-law, also helps to make what they do very entertaining. Most of the film is the two guys but there is a small appearance by another worker. The guy they meet is a little strange and I was not sure what to make of him. The film is set in 1988 after a major fire has swept through an area of Texas. I'm not sure why David chose this as the place ot the time to set the film. Perhaps he knew people like this growing up and wanted to honour them in a film.
I think Paul Rudd is one of my favourite actors. What ever film he is in, he is excellent. The film might not be all that great but he always gives an excellent performance. That is very true with this film. His character has many different problems which Paul brings his everyman quality to. His side-kick Emile Hirsch is also very good. Paul's character is very straight laced so Emile's is more chaotic. Emile plays that laziness really well. You definitely get the impression that he does not want to be there.
Despite being very low-key this is still an excellent film. I love films with a small cast and this one is no exception.
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