THREE FOR THE ROAD
US, 1987, 98 minutes, Colour.
Charlie Sheen, Kerri Green, Alan Ruck, Sally Kellerman.
Directed by Bill W.Norton.
Three for the Road is a bright, if trendy, road film of the late '80s. Charlie Sheen portrays a yuppy in the service of an American senator. He is given a mission to take his difficult daughter to an institution. On the road, attitudes change after a series of madcap and serious adventures.
The film shows family relationships in the '80s, tensions, political hypocrisy, ambition - and the prevailing of integrity and the truth. The film was written and directed by B.W.I. Norton, writer of many films including More American Graffiti.
1. A road film, about yuppies, about teenagers and their problems?
2. The road, the southern states, the various locations for the action? Musical score and songs?
3. Paul, efficient in his job, ambitions? T.S. and his slovenly style? Giving advice to the senator? Currying favour, accepting the senator's job? Meeting Robyn, taking T.S. with him? The clash in the car, her philosophy and experience? Her tantrums? Phoning the senator? The restaurant and his pulling rank? Her behaviour, especially eating with her feet? The handcuffs? Her running away and their catching her? The motel, persuading him to go for the swim? Handcuffing him and getting away with the car? T.S. and Paul hitchhiking, Stu offering them the ride, pulling the gun and robbing them, taking their clothes? Finding the car, getting clothes, chasing Robyn? Catching her, the post office and finding Blanche's address? The pursuit, the meeting with Blanche? Taking Robyn to the hospital, his return the next day, the clash with the senator, arranging Robyn's escape? His change of heart?
4. T.S., slovenly, asking girls about the books they had read, along for the ride, sharing in the adventures, finding the girlfriend and their meeting of mind and heart?
5. Robyn, a kooky girl, her past, the senator's brutality, her mother's departure, not wanting to go to the institution, spurning Paul? Her devices for getting away, eating with her feet at the table, the handcuffs, the swim, trying to find Blanche? Meeting her mother, pleading with her? Going to the hospital, her father and his brutality, slapping her? The arrangement for the escape?
6. Blanche, the marriage to the senator, the break-up, her story, feeling unable to help her daughter? Change of heart, the clash with the senator and threatening to reveal the truth about his brutal behaviour? Taking her daughter away?
7. The senator, up and coming, successful career? Clash with his daughter, headlines? The commission for Paul? Meeting him at the hospital, taking over? His brutality, hitting his daughter? The clash with Blanche?
8. The blend of action, comedy, yuppies, American families?
