by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Have you ever been enjoying a film but its climax ruined the whole entire thing for you? One of the most frustrating things is when a film cannot stick its landing. But what is truly infuriating is when it ruins the whole experience for you. The film could go in a direction that it could never possibly come back from. There could be a situation where the themes get corrupted to the point of corrosion. Unfortunately, Amazon’s latest dramedy accomplishes both of those things.
Why does Don’t Make Me Go fall so fast from grace? This story is one of lost time and a running clock. John Cho’s Max is a single father who finds out that he might not survive a terrible illness. He takes his daughter Wally (Mia Isaac) on a cross-country journey to meet her mother, but she does know that, nor does she know her father might be dying. The film decides to make one bold decision with a character, and it completely undercuts the film for the sake of shock value. But you can possibly get past that. What is unfortunate is the thematic context the film takes around the decision. The messaging is so misguided that it made me hate the film by the end (even with a few nice moments to wrap the narrative up).
Why is that so unfortunate? It was a decently enjoyable film up to this point. The dynamic between Cho and Isaac was quite charming. Their dynamic has some awkward and uncomfortable moments, which offer up some quality drama. This is a relationship between a man and his teenage daughter, mind you. There is some solid humor throughout the film, and Cho is a great lead to carry this dramedy. The core of the film is the relationship between these two characters (until the film decides to ruin it).
How does director Hannah Marks elevate the script she is working with? The film generally has a crisp and quality look to it. There are tense and emotional moments that Marks handles well (besides when the script shifts way too quickly in the third act). The tone (for the most part) knows when to let the emotional moments breathe. Marks has a track record of quirky and engaging films, and this one captures some of the directorial energy.
But what is the issue? That lies mostly with Vera Herbert’s screenplay. Generally, the film hits plenty of tropes and clichés of road trip movies. There are plenty of familiar beats from films focusing on single parents. The tricky things are when the film tries to be bold and try something new. But this is where it goes off the rails.
What is the film’s saving grace? This twist might not have the same effect on everyone. If you can get past this third act shift, this is still a solid and enjoyable film. There is enough and enough heart to take you on this journey. Cho and Isaac are real highlights. Give this one a try for yourself over on Amazon Prime.
Score: 3/10
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