Ride the Eagle | Film Review

There is something tangibly alluring about a mid-life existential crisis, arriving at a moment in one’s personal journey where you finally embrace clarity and purpose. When we first meet Ride the Eagle’s Leif (Jake Johnson), it is painfully obvious he is lost in the trees of existence, sponging off of a friend for passable shelter and struggling to make ends meet in a band where everyone but him realizes he is far too old to rock with the modern age.

Everything comes to a head when he learns that his estranged mother, Honey (Susan Sarandon), has passed away. Furthermore, Honey has left Leif her exquisite cabin in picturesque Yosemite National Park. The only catch is that this is a conditional inheritance, meaning Leif will only receive the cabin after completing several life lessons that Honey has left for him via old VHS tapes.

More often than not, films that revolve around personal discovery in the wilderness tend to favor the survivalist nature of the concept. Land, Wild, Hunter Hunter are just to name a few. As an avid backpacker myself, what is generally missed is how simplistic life can be once you commit to freeing one’s mind and living in the wild, giving yourself to the calmness of tranquility. Instead, Ride the Eagle demonstrates how Honey has devoted her life to this purpose of quiet reflection, and though she obviously missed a few parenting classes along the way, she intends to not let her death be in vain.

Jake Johnson carries that everyman quality any fan of his work can count on, time-and-time again. Here, he also imbues Leif with a hefty combination of mischievous ironic wit and genuine heart. Leif is a bit lost in life, yes, and part of that is in his upbringing. Leif is a creative being like his mother, but his tendencies and insecurities have hobbled his chances for deeper meaning in both his relationships and achievements. Aside from his dutiful and equally charming dog, Nora, Leif has little to speak of, and Johnson wears that emotional baggage with honesty.

Jake Johnson carries this film – he’s in every scene – and there is never a moment throughout that he does not keep the audience invested. He also happens to be blessed with one hell of a supporting cast in those intermittent bits that call for another player.

Susan Sarandon only appears in videotaped segments, and even in these brief clips, she envelopes the entire production with her essence. Sarandon has always had a knack to instantly capture our attention, and her ability to create a fully formed, complex character with barely 15 minutes of screen time is a further testament to her abilities. J.K. Simmons also pops up in an extended cameo tied to Honey, and as usual stamps his mark with his trademark intensity.

Likewise, D’Arcy Carden’s Audrey carries the unenviable task of establishing the entire history of a failed relationship during brief but enlightening phone calls (Honey requires Leif to apologize to “the one that got away”). Carden is more than up to the task, as it only takes 30 seconds to realize Leif made a horrendous call walking away from someone as witty, gentle, and intelligent as Audrey.

Written by Jake Johnson and director Trent O’Donnell (reunited from New Girl), Ride the Eagle is a laid-back comedy full of heart, breathtaking scenery, and wonderful performances across the board. Not the least of which is Jake Johnson, an actor with a multitude of talents. You’ll come for Honey’s hippie shenanigans, but you’ll stay for the humanity.