Passenger Side
Passenger Side is a Canadian road movie but all of the lead actors are American and the action takes place in California. This however doesn’t look like the Golden State we’ve come to see portrayed elsewhere as the backdrops are a succession of deserted desolation as two brothers with mommy issues go on a wild goose chase to find a woman. Michael (Adam Scott) is an author and his older but fragile brother Tobey (Joel Bissonnette) just back from a lengthy stay in rehab has an agenda. Theresa (Robin Tunney) is the woman of his dreams and he’s insistent on finding her. Since Toby can’t drive he leans on Michael to chauffeur him around. Michael is cool to the idea but resigns himself to the task because he knows that his mother (who we never see – the closest we get to her is a muffled voice on the phone) will insist on it. They stumble down one blind ally after another encountering to Michaels surprise uncomfortable situations familiar to Toby like porn film sets and horny transsexual. While rushing a rescued migrant with two amputated fingers he self-diagnoses his condition as eight out of ten, but the real charm of this low budget comedy is the extemporaneous banter between men who wouldn’t ordinarily share a space but are drawn together via pure brotherly love. Then there’s the shocking twist at the end that really emphasizes their sibling reverence.