A touching film that inspires, Adopt a Highway is now on Blu-ray and DVD. Not a flaw in the drama, it has all the qualities that make a movie great including stellar acting by Ethan Hawke, pinpoint directing and highest production value. I also like the way director and writer Logan Marshall-Green gets to the point early on and plays out his film at a nice pace makes it compelling and comes to a plausible conclusion. It’s the perfect “what if this were to happened to me”?
Just released from prison for possession of one ounce of marijuana with intent to distribute, 44 year-old Russell Millings (Ethan Hawke) has served 21 years in the pen. It has been a term that covered most of the technological advancements of our time and he finds himself lost when it comes to even sending an email.
Acquiring a job at a Troy’s Burgers as a dishwasher has given him the meager income he lives on in his small apartment. After a long period of work and good behavior while serving his parole requirements, he’s close to being free to roam America. Earning the respect and trust as a loyal employee at the fast food restaurant, one night his boss asks him if he can stay late and close up. As he brings the garbage bags to the dumpsters, he discovers Ella (Everly and Savannah Sucher) an abandoned baby in a tote bag.
So begins this amazing story about Russell and the fate awaiting him and Ella that’s beyond imagination. Director and writer Logan Marshall Green puts together a very good script, one you could easily say can really have happened. He makes his main character a criminal, but one that had fallen from grace in the wrong decade. Being arrested during the period where if you get three strikes with the law and you commit your third felony, the judge deliver’s it’s a mandatory sentence even if it’s only possession of an ounce of marijuana. Green shows the effect that prison life has had on Russell and what he has missed because of his crime.
What makes the film extra special is the performance by Ethan Hawke who makes every scene believable. He rescues the child, but has to make a decision of circumstance that is beyond his newly presented realm of freedom. The saving of the child is a metaphor for his own life of wanting to start anew if given a chance to relive it. Not knowing how to handle the situation Russell takes it upon himself to care for baby Ella after saving her life, much like he would have wanted for himself. But, by doing so has put his future in jeopardy, yet selflessly takes the biggest chance of his life.
Ethan Hawke has always entertained bringing a countless number of characters to the screen and making them real. Some of his best include roles in the brutal film Training Day, the romantic drama Snow Falling on Cedars, and the pulsating First Reformed.
Adopt a Highway has not been rated by the MPAA but contains some language. Now on DVD and Blu-ray.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good film that touches your heart. (5 out of 5 Stars)
Specifications and additional video information
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Elaine Hendrix, Diane Gaeta,
Mo McRae, Chris Sullivan, and Betty Gabriel
Directed and Written by: Logan Marshall Green
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, language
Running Time: 1hr.18 min.
Video Release Date: December 24, 2019
Original Theatrical Release Date: November 1, 2019
Language: English
Reviewed Format: Blu-ray
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio
Video: Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
Subtitles: English SDH, French
Number of Discs: 1 disc
Distributed by: RLJE Films
Released on: Blu-ray, DVD
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
