This is one of those films that is very eccentric to say the least. A lot is going on at all times and we get some very dramatized accounts of events from a not very trust worthy source. As a result you really have to be giving the side glance to anything that is talked about in the movie. What really happened? Either way, I appreciate the film’s enthusiasm in being all crazy but unfortunately that didn’t always translate into being a particularly interesting film and the unlikable characters hurt.

The movie is focused on a character named Henry whose mother recently passed away. That was a really tough time for him and he’s trying to get his life back in order but then his aunt Augusta shows up and says that Henry’s mother wasn’t actually his mother. Henry’s not sure if he can believe this since he isn’t even sure if Augusta is his true aunt. Well, she is tryin to get to her true love Ercole who has been kidnapped and there is a giant ransom for him. She is also transporting drugs and hanging out with shady individuals but that’s just how she rolls. Henry finds himself all wrapped up in this situation before he knows it. Can he get out of this…or does part of him want to stick around to find out the truth?

As they journey, Augusta tells Henry all about her past achievements. She’s basically slept around with tons of people and could seduce anyone that she puts her mind to. Unfortunately the man’s relationship status doesn’t matter to her and so she will cheat with anyone. As you can quickly tell, she is not a good role model in the slightest. It’s all very casual to her about all the things she can do and get away with it. I dare say that she is even proud of this which is really crazy.

So she automatically drags the film down a few notches. All of her scenes are pretty bad. It’s not even funny to be honest even if that’s the approach they’re going for. You’re just rooting against her here and it goes without saying that all of the romances are weak as a result. Henry gets a romance of his own and I can’t say that it’s any better. He hooks up with a girl on the train and they have some meaningless abstract conversations. It’s basically all gibberish but Henry’s going along with it and the whole thing was crazy. I expected better out of Henry than to go down the same road as Augusta.

We get our share of twists as the film goes on and you learn more about Augusta and her past but none of it helps to redeem her in the slightest. There was really no hope for her character which is a shame. Even her right hand man Zachary isn’t all that interesting. He’s basically complicit in all of the shady dealings and doesn’t mind messing around. I like his confidence but at the end of the day he’s definitely another fighter who is on the wrong side here.

Ironically Henry ends up being one of the smarter characters here even though initially it seemed like he was the one being pushed around and manipulated. He actually thought ahead and came up with a plan involving a very iffy painting which helped them out during the climax. The ending leaves it ambiguous on just how far gone Henry is as we don’t get to see the outcome from a coin flip but the fact that he put that on the table shows that he’s probably on Augusta’s team going forward.

I would even say that the main story here is really about Henry’s corruption. He initially led a very boring life but seeing his mother’s ashes thrown aside from the cops were checking for drugs and learning about Augusta’s escapades, it seems like he cracked. Henry just wasn’t content the way that he used to be and it showed. This guy went from being a very timid individual to being pressured into taking drugs, having affairs, etc.

In a way it’s a bit of a depressing morale and the whole film is sort of slanted that way. On the surface it’s a very bubbly film as they go from place to place. The sceneries are nice and we get to meet a wide variety of characters. Beneath the surface though, these characters tend to all be antagonist types who are having a good time at someone else’s expense. Drugs, Cheating, Gambling, Theft, etc. They do whatever it takes and Henry’s corruption is unfortunate but realistic.

If the film had shown more restraint then it could have maybe still been okay but some plots are just hard to save. The whole affair and drug use in the train was the biggest standout scene to me but Augusta’s various cheating moments didn’t help much either. You would also expect at the very least that Augusta was super street smart thanks to all of her experiences but a note with a ransom is enough to get her to travel the world to her lover with no questions asked. Not the smartest move out there.

Overall, This is one of those films that doesn’t have an elaborate plot but doesn’t really need one. The title is very descriptive as the movie is much more about the journey than the destination. You are learning about the aunt and the experiences that led her into who she is today. It’s less important on getting the money or finishing up the whole painting subplot. At the same time, this isn’t particularly interesting to the viewer since we know that she is bad news from the start. It’s not like we needed to really be reminded of this each time through a flashback. It’s just not a particularly fun film and I would definitely say to skip this one. Find a title with a more wholesome plot of family members meeting up and bonding together.

Overall 3/10