I thoroughly enjoyed a majority of this movie. As the others stated, it's beautifully done, and the acting is superb. I enjoy "road" movies and slowly uncovering the pieces of this man's life as he goes through the journey of Texas and California. I mean the "amnesia" is not believable, but I'll set that aside. I liked the stark contrast between Travis and his brother. One, an irresponsible, selfish drifter-type, the other a responsible, caring man. And I thought the kid's acting was believable - the way Hunter processed the new idea of having his biological father in his life and potentially meeting his biological mother.
However, I have a problem with the third act. At the end of the movie, it felt like the director wanted the audience to feel relieved and content that Hunter was reunited with his mother. And that we should empathize with Travis driving off into the distance, as he had fulfilled his duty. But I feel exactly the opposite. This is an unsettling ending.
Neither of these people are fit to be parents or make life-altering decisions for anyone. They both need years of therapy before being left to their own devices. Some of the other commenters mentioned she was not emotionally stable to be a mother. Although true, I think they're slightly missing the point. Travis emotionally and physically abused this woman! Tied her to the stove?! Of course she needs some help recovering before this kid gets thrust upon her. And there's a couple of sick societal norms being thrust upon us here - that this woman would be quick to jump to being a mom to this kid. That the maternal instinct is just going to pop into place! And then, that it's acceptable that the father is no longer in the picture because he's going to go find himself or something. No, Travis is an immature excuse of a human being and this decision is garbage.
Poor Hunter, ripped away from a stable home. I use the word stable because they seem to be emotionally, financially, and physically well-adjusted enough to raise a healthy kid. Not because they're a married couple with a house. Anyway, poor Hunter is in for a treat, all because his father needed to soothe his own conscience.
And we're supposed to agree to this? Not me. However, with that being said, I still enjoyed this movie overall.
However, I have a problem with the third act. At the end of the movie, it felt like the director wanted the audience to feel relieved and content that Hunter was reunited with his mother. And that we should empathize with Travis driving off into the distance, as he had fulfilled his duty. But I feel exactly the opposite. This is an unsettling ending.
Neither of these people are fit to be parents or make life-altering decisions for anyone. They both need years of therapy before being left to their own devices. Some of the other commenters mentioned she was not emotionally stable to be a mother. Although true, I think they're slightly missing the point. Travis emotionally and physically abused this woman! Tied her to the stove?! Of course she needs some help recovering before this kid gets thrust upon her. And there's a couple of sick societal norms being thrust upon us here - that this woman would be quick to jump to being a mom to this kid. That the maternal instinct is just going to pop into place! And then, that it's acceptable that the father is no longer in the picture because he's going to go find himself or something. No, Travis is an immature excuse of a human being and this decision is garbage.
Poor Hunter, ripped away from a stable home. I use the word stable because they seem to be emotionally, financially, and physically well-adjusted enough to raise a healthy kid. Not because they're a married couple with a house. Anyway, poor Hunter is in for a treat, all because his father needed to soothe his own conscience.
And we're supposed to agree to this? Not me. However, with that being said, I still enjoyed this movie overall.