VICKERY’S WILD RIDE (THE WILDERNESS FAMILY)

US, 2009, 100 minutes, Colour.
Jonathan Silverman, Peter Strauss, Dedee Pfeiffer, Richard Portnow, Nolan Gerard Funk, Linsey Godfrey.
Directed by Bradford May.

The Wilderness Family is a morale-boosting film for those who want audiences to move out into the open countryside rather than to be confined in the cities.

Jonathan Silverman plays an advertising agent who doesn’t get the promotion he expected. In the meantime, his uncle (a cameo by Peter Graves) leaves his wilderness house and property to him and his family. He persuades his wife (Dedee Pfeiffer) and his son and daughter to go with him to the house. Needless to say, it all begins with disasters but gradually they get used to the countryside, find a friend of the uncle, Wild Bill Cohen (Peter Strauss) and learn a lot about surviving in the wilderness and its beauty.

The film is one of those American Hallmark kind of exhortatory films to a better life.

1.The appeal of the film? The busy city family? The open country and the wilderness and its appeal? Transformation of lives?

2.The contrast between the city and the country, the mountains, waterfall, the animals, the wild horses? The appeal? The musical score?

3.The focus on Jack Vickery, his work for George, his discussions with Roy, the campaign, his not getting the promotion, his disappointment? His going home, the news about the house? The memories of his childhood and of his uncle? His plea for the family to go with him?

4.The background of the advertising world, George and his pressures, Roy and his ambitions? Plans, campaigns, the cutthroat world? The later phone calls, Roy’s visit and Jack turning him down? The phone call to George – and the ultimatum about getting his job back if conditions are met to give him the kind of freedom that he needed?

5.The family, Emily and her work, busy? Derek and Charlotte? City-focused? The resistance to the idea of going to the country, the ride, iPods and cell phones?

6.The cheerful man at the service station? The waterfall? Arrival, the family and the reaction to lack of amenities, no television, no electricity? The fear of the bear? Sitting in the car? The morning, Charlotte wandering off? Their panic? Resolutions to leave? Jack’s appeal to go to the waterfall – and their failing to find it?

7.Wild Bill Cohen, arrival, rescuing Charlotte? Friendship with George? His appearance, his story and the change of his life? His experience in the wilderness? His hospitality, helping with recharging the car? Derek and his being inconsiderate and the battery going flat as he charged his iPod?

8.The decision to stay? Charlotte and the horses? Derek and his change of heart? Emily and her adapting?

9.Life in the wilderness, its beauty, the waterfall? Supplies? The information from Jack? The waterfall being called after the uncle?

10.The horses, the disease, Bill and his appealing for their help? The roundup, Bill’s injury? Their having to round up the horses themselves – success and a sense of achievement?

11.Charlotte and her discussions with her mother, about being a vet, the countryside? Derek and his talk with his father, fishing together, his self-image, studies? The soccer match and the family joining in?

12.The conversion to the countryside? Its beauty, freedom? Lack of mod-cons? The decision to stay – Roy and his disbelief?

13.The future, jobs in the city – but a healthy regard for the wilderness and the shift in an environmental consciousness?