Around the Bend

Jordan Roberts' feature debut pulls off the dizzying high-wire act of being both a misty-eyed glimpse into four generations of the men in the Lair family and a steely meditation on manhood, parenting, and the pitfalls thereof.

With a cast this strong, the picture is easy to watch, but Roberts can't help but pile on the goop and schmaltz undercutting any emotional resonance he hopes to achieve with a banal whimsy that grates on the nerves.

A sentimental journey, to be sure, but is saved by bleakly humorous moments.

When traveling the American Southwest, there are bound to be many KFC locations around the bend to feed you along the way.