‘What We Find on the Road’ (2024) Movie Review - How to Ride

What We Find On The Road is a story revolving around TJ, a young kid who just turned eighteen. One day, a stranger knocked at his door and delivered a note and a key stating that it was from his dad. It's the same father who didn't deem it necessary to visit his family for eight years. TJ knew his dad until he was ten and as his dad was a convicted felon, he destroyed the life of his mother. Apart from this family, everyone had sweet memories of TJ’s dad.

Upon reaching a garage, TJ found out what the key was for, it was an old convertible car that his dad wanted him to take to California. This meant that the young chap had to travel three thousand miles in a car which needed a lot of repairing. After working with Billy and Jimmy on the car, TJ was ready for the ride. His mother wasn't in favor of this but the heart wants what it wants and the small kid in TJ wanted to see his dad and seek answers to the questions that had been troubling him since his childhood.

Just as the guy is about to leave, his best friend joins him. This was a sweet gesture and another reason behind it was that it was the last summer before college and he wanted to make the most of it. The car encountered several problems en route like the radiator getting heated up. TJ’s friend was skeptical about the trunk lying in the car's trunk. This was the breaking point in the journey the duo planned. Several other factors were also involved in making them go their separate ways like parental pressure. When the kid is just eighteen, parents get protective about them going on unsupervised trips and the same happened here.

It took TJ enough courage to face his dad. All the frustration and disappointment piled on and it resulted in anger fits. He even broke off the car's windshield and headlights to show how disappointed he was with his father. TJ met a stranger on the road and this is where the film gets a little bit tolerable. My favorite scene is the one where his hands meet with the girls while they are stargazing. Doesn't this make for an absolute romantic moment? 

In my opinion, this film seriously lacked content. In the movie, the main character TJ encounters little on his journey except for two people. One was his best friend, who abandoned him at the first opportunity. The other was a girl to whom he felt attracted. TJ had to travel three thousand miles, and if you ask me when people embark on such long journeys, they usually have stories to share. Yet, what we are presented with here feels rather lacking.

I can't find any reason to justify why one should watch the film and it's equally hard to believe that a writer wrote this script and was selected to be made into a movie. What was the point of making this film is beyond my understanding but, if you feel like giving it a go then you've been warned. The actor portraying the role of TJ struggled with expressing emotions and delivering his lines effectively. This issue extended to the other cast members as well. This 93-minute movie is suited for viewers seeking peace of mind and those who enjoy watching travel vlogs.

Final Score – [3.5/10]
Reviewed by - Riya Singh
Follow @_riyasinghhh_ on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times