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LAND HO! Send This Review to a Friend
Two codgers who have time on their hands take a vacation trip together, and of all places, they head for Iceland. “Land Ho!,” written and directed by Martha Stephens and Aaron Katz, records their escapade.
Paul Eenhoorn and Earl Lynn Nelson play Colin and Mitch the brothers-in-law travelers with exactly the right spirit for the film’s trajectory. Their conversations are more interesting than what they do, as there is much enjoyable humor for audiences listening to these old guys bantering about their lives and experiences and revealing their respective attitudes between the sightseeing. They can be very funny together.
Colin’s wife has died and Mitch and his wife are divorced. The men had been close at one time, and now their loneliness brings them together. It is Mitch, a retired surgeon, who persuades the Australian Colin, who is the motivator for the trip.
Spending time together has its irritants, but they also enjoy their journey. Their conversation sometimes gets ribald, as when the physical attributes of a noted actress is referenced. They also have an eye for the ladies despite being so over-the-hill.
At one point, Ellen (Karrie Crouse) a young cousin of Mitch, and her friend Janet (Elizabeth Mckee) show up, and there is humor in the youth and age contrast. In another interlude, they meet a woman on an outdoor journey and that encounter is handled nicely.
In its way, the film is one big promotion for Iceland and the cinematography shows off the landscapes and attractions. Will you book your own vacation there? It may depend on how seriously you take these oldsters leading the way. A Sony Pictures Classics release. Reviewed July 14, 2014.
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