I wasn’t sure what to expect with the movie AMERICAN
DRESSER. I mean I’ve pretty much enjoyed every movie I’ve ever seen that
featured Tom Berenger. But this is an actor who has lost favor in Hollywood,
one of the many who have aged (well enough) but are no longer in what that
business considers their prime. That’s Hollywood’s loss because there are still
some great stories to be told using actors in that age bracket. This is one of
those.
Berenger plays John Moore, a Vietnam vet whose wife Sandra
(Gina Gershon), the love of his life, has passed away. He’s taking it hard and
taken up drinking to solve fill his loss. Needless to say this does not endear
him to his two daughters. Reading a letter he comes across in his wife’s things
he sets out on a journey to discover not only himself but something he never
realized existed. He dusts off the old motorcycle, tunes it up and gets ready
to head out.
But he won’t be alone. Fellow vet and best friend Charlie
(Keith David) tells him he’s coming along in spite of the fact that he’s just
recovering from an accident and about to lose a leg from that. He also
announces he’s marrying his longtime girlfriend. But John relents and the pair
set out for their last “ride of a lifetime”.
The pair travel for a while and end up outside a rough and
tumble biker bar. There they meet Willie (Carmine Cangialosi who also wrote and
directed the film) in the parking lot, another bike rider on the road who
offers to help John with an issue with his bike. Turning him down they enter
the bar only to find a biker itching for a fight. Charlie thinks he has things
under control but when push comes to shove a fight breaks out and Willie jumps
in to save the pair, hitting the road with them and away from the bar.
While Charlie isn’t fond of Willie, John takes a liking to
him and allows him to join their trip as far as he’d like. Their adventures on
the road take them down several paths. One is the home of Vera (Penelope Ann
Miller), Charlie’s soon to be wife’s cousin’s house. Another is a vet named
King (Bruce Dern) who lives out of his van which includes his own classic bike.
And how could a movie be about bike riders without including scenes at Sturgis?
On the way John has to deal with his drinking problem, the
issues that come up on the road (including an arrest and beating of Charlie by
police who suspect him of murder) and the letter that he found. What was in
that letter anyway? Until he reaches the coast none of us know.
What makes the movie work is that it talks about an issue
all of us will face one day, aging and dealing with that. This makes the actors
perfect for the roles they take on here. But compounding that issue is one of
loss. John has not only lost the love of his life but is lost without her. The
pair were supposed to be making a bike trip together which was shot down when
she became ill. Now he must fulfill their dream on his own and find himself
along the road.
Some have called the movie cliché in parts but aren’t all
movies a bit cliché when it comes to themes? There are only so many core
stories to tell and it is the wrapping around those stories which make them
good, bad or indifferent. I for one enjoyed this tale as well as the
performances of all involved. Then again I’m getting older too so maybe that’s
part of it. My guess is that the movie might not hold a lot of meaning for
those under 30 but for everyone else you’ll dream of riding on the road with
the wind in your face like John and Charlie. If you can’t then this movie will
give you that chance.
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