Land Ho!

source: Land Ho!

Well the movie does present us the beautiful scenery of Iceland and also all its other tourism appeals. It does also have quite a funny dialog almost all around. Yet the story leaves from not a very strong starting point. It also doesn't develop into a stronger premise. The movie overall looks more like a big commercial slot for Iceland's tourism than a feature film. It feels like putting some slogan like "Visit Iceland" down at the bottom of every scenic sequence can really complete this movie. It's because the whole movie only serves two old men wandering around Iceland and sometimes doing quite outrageous things. The acting is just a decent work overall. But the overall monotone of the movie changes it into a mostly boring movie if it's not showing the scenery.

It made me laugh, it made me cringe. But I KNOW people like the characters in this movie, warts and all and that's why I found the film so appealing--in real life, not everyone speaks in complete sentences, or has a clever retort; sometimes, people are clumsy and there are awkward pauses--and there's plenty of that in this film. That might drive some people nuts, but I found it to be a feature, not a bug. The scenes of Iceland were breathtaking, it was like a travelogue in some respects, but (I keep coming back to this) I liked the dialogue; it seemed very unscripted, the way that real people talk. The conversations between the American and Australian ex-brothers in law were hilarious at times and annoying at other times, and poignant, still, at others, and the work just seemed more like a goofy reality-type documentary than a film. It will most assuredly NOT be to everyone's taste--it is a weird film, one feels almost like a voyeur watching it, but I found it a good use of my time. If your tastes are a bit oddball, you will get a kick out of this film--let it unroll at its own pace, ya can't force it...!

In 'Land Ho!', Mitch (Earl Lynn Nelson), a retired American surgeon who smokes pot and who calls women 'broads', inveigles his staider Australian former brother-in-law Colin (Paul Eenhoorn, who has the kind of familiar face that will have you thinking "Oh, wasn't he in... that thing... with the thing?") into taking a trip to Iceland, where the pair drive around in a massive car and have conversations. And that is about it as far as the plot goes. Judging by the naturalistic style of speaking (repeats, pauses etc), a lot of the conversation is ad-libbed. This doesn't work so well when other characters are involved - the segment where the retirees spend time with two much younger women is especially trying, largely because Karrie Crouse delivers her lines in such a drawling monotone the viewer has to resist the urge to yell at the screen "WAKE UP, WOMAN!" But when sharing the screen with nobody but each other, Nelson and Eenhoorn well convey the easy rapport between two men who have known each other for decades. I like the fact that the film avoids the big revelation so common in this sort of production (I was braced for one of the men to announce "This is going to be my last trip - the doctors have given me six months" or similar, but it didn't happen). The film does end rather abruptly, though. What is very apparent is the amount of product-placement: the shot of an Icelandair 'plane, the close-ups of Lonely Planet's Iceland guidebook, the mention of a real-life Reykjavík restaurant called 'Dill'. Not to mention the Icelandic scenery, lovingly shown in all its bleak interestingness. Unfortunately the 2014 London Film Festival showing I attended cut the credits (grr!) so I don't know whether Icelandair, Lonely Planet, Dill and/or the Icelandic Ministry of Tourism actually *did* sponsor the film; if they did, it would be interesting to know what came first: the idea for the film, or the sponsorship?

Land Ho! Is a very pleasant surprise. Coming into the movie, I had zero expectations, since I had never heard of the film prior, and a movie about two old men embarking on a journey through Iceland, sounded like something that could have been boring for me. However, great chemistry between the two leads (Earl Lynn Nelson and Paul Eenhoorn), along with an emphasis of character than story, and a lot of very funny but vulgar humor, made Land Ho! was a pleasant surprise for me. Land Ho! is a film that starts out in The U.S. (the opening scenes were filmed in Kentucky), and winds up going to Iceland after the first fifteen minutes of the film. Telling the story of two brother-in-laws named Mitch (his full name is Leslie Mitchell, but he prefers Mitch because he finds Leslie to be a girl's name), and Colin, an Australian, who decide to go through Iceland in an attempt to reclaim their youth. They go through Reykjavik nightclubs, spas, and campsites. This film is supposed to be a throwback to the 1980's road trip comedies, as well as an exploration of age and friendship. Mitch and Colin are still friends in the film all the way through, despite their differences and arguments. As mentioned already, Land Ho! is a joy to watch, but what it makes it work is the actor's chemistry with each other. As played by Nelson and Eenhoorn, Mitch and Colin are believable as old acquaintances and best friends. The two bicker and argue in the film, but they still laugh and have a good time with each other. I especially like the movie references they give (of which the film has plenty of), including Sleepless in Seattle, Rio Bravo and Pretty Woman. Those were fun to hear and catch, as was the rest of the film. The movie itself is put into three different sequences, referring to where the two are traveling. These include, The Golden Circle, Land Manga, and Laughter. Some of the plot concerns Mitch seeing his younger cousin (who refers to him as uncle, even though they are second cousins), who is visiting Iceland. The other parts of the plot concern Mitch and Colin getting caught up in some wacky shenanigans, like in an assuming scene where the two get lost in the dark after being outside and are trying to get back to their hotel, but can't see and eventually end up sleeping in the woods at night; very amusing scene. The humor in Land Ho! comes from the characters interactions with each other. Director and writer team Aaron Katz and Martha Stephens clearly have a good idea on how to create genuine humor. Mitch and Colin, or either one or the other are the focus of the film 100% of the time, which is a good thing, and adds to the humor and interaction. Quotes such as "angels pissing on your tongue" and the use of the words "balls" in a particular scene, had me and the audience cracking up, as we were already enjoying the rest of the film. Another funny scene occurs when Mitch and Colin are in the water swimming around. Colin does his best Johnny Weissmuller Tarzans' scream impersonation. The film's dialogue and humor can be very vulgar at times, so it may not be for everyone, even if the film itself is harmless in terms of actual imagery. Land Ho! is an enjoyable, road adventure comedy. It's not the greatest movie ever, but as a piece of entertainment, it works extremely well. The actors' chemistry, along with the humor, helps to make the film enjoyable to watch. You don't see many road movies like Land-Ho made these days.

besides the wonderful screenplay this movie has little to offer. cant comment on the story, seen too many like this, so nothing new here. but it does full justice to the natural beauty of Iceland. the hummer was super. the old folks were comic. wouldn't wast any time let alone money on this. and the scene where he kisses the girl, that was the only attempt at romance. the time they get lost and sleep out, he has not got his head covered n survived? the spa...............every place seems to have hot water in plenty. not worth the watch. see it on Nat Geo instead. besides the wonderful screenplay this movie has little to offer. cant comment on the story, seen too many like this, so nothing new here. but it does full justice to the natural beauty of Iceland. the hummer was super. the old folks were comic. wouldn't wast any time let alone money on this. and the scene where he kisses the girl, that was the only attempt at romance. the time they get lost and sleep out, he has not got his head covered n survived? the spa...............every place seems to have hot water in plenty. not worth the watch. see it on Nat Geo instead

At the risk of sounding like a codger who needs an Icelandic trip with a bud, I found Land Ho! underwhelming. The barren but beautiful Icelandic landscape is lovely to see, and the girls in hot springs are, well, hot, but the two ancient mariners, Mitch (Earl Lynn Nelson) and Colin (Paul Eenhorn), have little enough wit to sustain an entire journey, much less a full film. Mitch (Earl Lynn Nelson), the wealthy surgeon, pays for the trip with his retired buddy, Colin (Paul Eenhoorn), that hits the popular spots, introduces them to some nice chicks with whom they have dinner, and lets them enjoy weed without conscience. As an elderly couple on the verge of existential renewal, Mitch is lively with a charming sense of humor and joie de vivre; Colin mostly broods about his divorce and lack of money. Except for a moment or two of philosophizing, it's small talk peppered with a few allusions to movies. So much for the realism, admirable but dull. Coincidentally, I recently saw Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon in The Trip to Italy, in which the two have a hilarious time impersonating actors and bandying about references to Byron and Shelley. Of course, even those travelers could not be that bright without rehearsal, even as natively-witted as they are. The joy I had was in the smart repartee and exhausting energy. In Land Ho! co-directors Aaron Katz and Martha Stephens spark up the proceedings with some peppy '80's or 8o's-like music ( e.g., Big Country and Monster Party), which works well against the ancient landscape and men. Land Ho!, however, moves at an old man's pace. The good thing for me is I'm able to recommend the film to my buddy, Keith, who is hot on our taking a trip to Iceland. Full disclosure: London is my favorite place on earth; Iceland would not rank.

Land Ho! is the end product of a collaboration between indie co-directors Martha Stephens and Aaron Katz. It's a road movie about two ex-brothers-in-law who travel to Iceland on vacation in order to reinvigorate their lives after retirement. Mitch (Earl Lynn Nelson), a Kentucky surgeon, re-connects with Colin (Paul Eenhoorn), who long ago played French horn in an orchestra but later became a bank manager as well as internet entrepreneur with his ex-wife. The back story as to their mild estrangement is not important, but one gets the impression that it's Mitch (who pays for the trip) is attempting to cheer Colin up, following his divorce from his second wife. As it turns out, however, we later discover that Mitch has ulterior motives—that in fact, he too needs cheering up, as he's also having trouble dealing with retirement. Of the two characters, Mitch is the aggressive one, with Colin playing the passive 'straight man'. Some viewers may find Mitch's personality a bit grating as his comments are often fraught with crude sexual allusions (sometimes directly made toward women). When Colin mentions that he'd like to see an Icelandic lighthouse, Mitch remarks that lighthouses remind him of an erect '*' without the 'balls'. Colin, on the other hand, comes off as shy and perhaps slightly depressed. Nonetheless there's good chemistry between the two and Mitch, despite the intermittent vulgarity, has a kind side as well. After Mitch and Colin arrive in Iceland, they drive around in a rented Humvee and see the sights. Occasionally, outside characters intrude breaking up the monotony of their often long-winded but occasionally charming conversations (Mitch sticks to his emphasis on sex; for Colin it's more about the movies he likes). Early on, the two meet up with Mitch's cousin (once removed) and her friend, two Ph.D. students, who just happen to be traveling to Reykjavík , following a stopover in Greenland. The meeting culminates in Mitch's cousin ending up passing out after drinking too much at a local disco. There isn't much more to tell about 'Land ho!' The high point of any conflict between the principals occurs after Mitch convinces Colin to join him taking a midnight stroll on the barren tundra without flashlights, with Colin ending up expressing his frustration with Mitch, who he regards as pushy and self-absorbed. There is very little developed here in terms of a plot that has any tension or characters with any developed or discernible arcs. While both Mitch and Colin are in Iceland to get their "groove back," aside from that, the stakes aren't high enough to suggest anything more than a pleasant, road movie, where nothing leads to any kind of memorable climax. Perhaps the real star of 'Land Ho!' is the beautiful, Icelandic countryside, filmed in high relief, on two expensive digital Red One cameras!

This is definitely a context film. In the context of great works of film and Oscar performances - not so much. In the context of how I imagine my adventure travel in my 70's - spot on. I will recommend this to two of my buddies whom I hope to make similar trips with in our later years. Mitch and Collin are two characters who I can see myself alluding too for many years to come on various tourist trips into parts unknown. I watched this on an international flight and the woman in front of me asked what I was watching because she kept hearing me giggle in my seat.

This is a wee bit better than the dreadful Lost in Translation, because we actually see a tiny bit of Iceland, after forty two minutes of a one and a half hour long movie. That's right, the first half is all indoors. The second half, on the other hand, is only 90% indoors, or inside the car, or on close up views. At some point, we can even see some basalt organ pipes in the background, out of focus. What is it with American directors filming fellow Americans travelling in a foreign country ? Why do they only show their protagonists, in constant casual conversations, sometimes with other Americans ? We don't even see any Icelander in this one, if memory serves. Just a Canadian for some added exotism. The two old geezers are boring, one of them even annoying. I wish he would keep silent sometimes. And the music too.