Movie Review - Driveways

Andrew Ahn started out as a film editor or an assistant film editor for Jeffrey Schwarz, an openly gay documentary filmmaker. Ahn is Korean-American and also openly gay. Ahn's debut feature was Spa Night (2016), which was about a teenage Korean-American dealing with his homosexuality. That film though was more about the internal dynamics of a Korean family, mostly dealing with the issues within itself. This film is Ahn's sophomore effort, his second feature, and this one is less about the internal dynamics. It's more about external dynamics and instead the issues outside itself. Specifically, it's about connecting to those around you, connecting with one's literal neighbors, those separated not necessarily by a fence but by a driveway in a nice, quiet, suburban setting.

Hong Chau (Amazon Prime's Homecoming and HBO's Watchmen) stars as Kathy, a single mother who works in medical transcription. She aspires to be a nurse. In the opening of the film, she's driving with her prepubescent son to her late sister's house. Kathy has to pack up and sell her sister's house, now that her sister has died. She apparently didn't have a good relationship with her sister. She didn't really talk to her sister. It's probably because the two lived quite a distance apart. There are other reasons as to why she was distant from her sister that aren't explored, but she's getting to know her sister a little bit by exploring the stuff in her house. Other than learning her sister's name, which is April, and that she was a hoarder, no more insight is gained in that regard. It's a red herring for a story that's really about Kathy's son.

Lucas Jaye (Merry Happy Whatever and Fuller House) co-stars as Cody, the 8-year-old son of Kathy. He entertains himself by playing with his blue tablet. He's pretty shy, but it's understandable because he's taken to a new place and a new town where he doesn't know anybody. His mother describes him as a very sensitive child. It seems that he's easily scared, although the things that startle him are things that could easily startle anyone. However, when he's helped by the literal next door neighbor of his aunt's house, Cody becomes more acclimated to this new place.

Brian Dennehy (Cocoon and First Blood) also stars as Del, a military veteran who served in the Korean War, which means that he's got to be at least 80 years-old, probably pushing 90. He's currently a widow. He still lives in the house that he shared with his late wife for over 40 years. It's not clear what state he's in, but presumably somewhere in the Midwest, but this film was shot in New York, so who knows? However, Del's daughter lives in Seattle, Washington, on the west coast. No matter where Del lives, it's supposed to be far from his daughter and whatever family he might have left.

It's not fully explored, but Del seemingly was friends with April before she died. It's not clear how long ago Del's wife died. Yet, now it feels as though he has perhaps lost another woman with whom he was close. That could be what prompts him to talk to Cody when he sees him running around next door. One aspect that isn't explored is the fact that Del fought in the Korean War and now he's befriending a little Korean boy. It's perhaps to the film's credit that it doesn't make an issue to this fact or even mentions it really. Ahn just lets that contrast sit there without calling attention to it. However, it's still a mystery why Del would make an effort to befriend Cody and not any of the other neighborhood kids.

There have been films about single mothers and their prepubescent children. One that came to mind was Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974). That film focused on the mother's romantic relationship with a man her own age. Ahn's film is more about the child forming a relationship, not a romantic one, but an intergenerational one between Cody and Del. There are quite a few films about intergenerational relationships between a boy and an older man.

One such example is Shane (1953). However, the titular character in that 1953 Western wasn't as old as Del is here. Others with more elderly men befriending significantly younger boys include The Karate Kid (1984), Back to the Future (1985), Gods and Monsters (1998), Pixar's Up (2009) and St. Vincent (2014). The difference for most of those films as opposed to this one is that those aforementioned films had a character arc, including an arc for the elderly guy. Del makes a decision at the end of this film, but I'm not convinced that decision was prompted by anything that happens in this film. It feels like a decision that would've happened anyway. Cody and his mom have to make a decision. It's arguable that their decision was prompted by the events in this film, but I'm not convinced of that. Regardless, it's a tender and sweet tale of human connection that's enjoyable.

Not Rated but for 13 and up.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 23 mins.

Available on VOD.