DETOUR (1999) * ½

Jeff Fahey and James Russo are thieves who are double crossed by sleazy Gary Busey in this dull crime thriller.  Jeff decides to lay low back in his hometown till the heat cools off.  He soon learns his mom died and if he wants a piece of the will, he’s got to make a go at being a dairy farmer.  Naturally, it’s only a matter of time before the gangsters come looking for the loot. 

Directed by Joey Travolta, Detour has a great cast including Michael Madsen, Tim Thomerson, and even Evan Rachel Wood in an early role.  Despite the copious amount of talent involved, it still winds up being a perplexing dud.  I think it would be easy (or just plain lazy) to put the blame on Joey Travolta because… well… he’s Joey Travolta.  However, he’s really not a bad director, as anyone who’s ever seen Hard Vice can attest. 

The big problem is with the screenplay by Raymond Martino and William Stroum, who also wrote To the Limit, the Anna Nicole Smith actioner that also co-starred Travolta.  The screenplay really twiddles its thumbs in the second act.  It’s here where Fahey reconnects with the family and friends he left behind while taking ownership of the family farm.  This is like some shit you’d see on the Great American Family Channel at 2 PM on a Tuesday while waiting in the doctor’s office.  The gratuitous farming montage is especially hard to take, as is the excessive parade footage.  The soundtrack is pretty intrusive too as it goes from hard rock to fake Tom Petty to knock-off Lilith Fair shit, seemingly on a dime.  Things do heat up in the finale when there are shootouts and explosions aplenty, but it’s all wrapped up so abruptly and conveniently that it’ll make your head spin in disbelief. 

The most disappointing thing about Detour is how it manages to waste its cast.  Fahey scowls and cusses, but his character arc is flimsy and predictable.  Madsen isn’t given much to do but act grumpy.  The same can be said for Russo, who’s pretty used to these thankless tough guy roles.  At least Busey seems to be having fun as the crooked money man, although he’s killed off too early to make much of an impression.  Joey was also able to get his sister Ellen to do a cameo.  (I guess John didn’t return his phone calls though.)

AKA:  Roadblock.  AKA:  Too Hard to Die.