User Reviews

Sometimes a nice quiet character study is what you want, as opposed to a tense thriller or a big studio picture. If that's what you're in the mood for, then this film should be right up your alley. A slow burn examination of how people tend to put their expectorations in others rather than themselves, and how doing so leads one's life to implode, both emotionally and physically. In this case everything around Clive the main character is falling apart- her family motel, her relationship with her husband- all because she's waiting on someone else to fulfill her life. To the point where she dresses like a little kid because that's essentially where her life as she knew it stopped. But she confronts her fear, that there is no fixing her life and that there's a very real chance it won't get better, and while that's bleak, it's also beautiful because it causes her to stop looking for others to fix her life and she takes command of her own self and becomes a grown up. It's actually quite nice, just wish there'd of been a few less emotional fights with mom and the hubby before she got there.

I love movies that are introspective and offer insights to life that are deep and thoughtful. And while I thought there were some lovely moments in this film, and the ending left me with something to think about, there were just too many moments where it was trying to be smarter than it was. Like the Eastern wisdom that the alien guy goes around offering? Seemed trite and overdone. And then there was the government agent who was written to be some type of fear and loathing type hippie guy but to be honest he was just creepy and I wished he'd go away. The dialogue was heavy handed and the mom was a stereotype. Honestly giving this thing a five is generous. Really it was a 2 but I'm in a good mood. So to the screenwriter of this over ponderous fluffy piece of whatever, you're welcome.

I saw this when it screened at WoodStock Film Fest, and I think the first thing that struck me was how visually appealing it is. To the point where some of the landscape shots almost looked 3D. But what hit me next was how the theme of life is bleak kept coming up again and again. The motel is rotting, the main character's life is wasting away, the husband leaves, the alien returns home to uncertain doom and the mother dies. For what was billed family friendly, that sure is a lot of hopelessness. But at the same time, there's this core within the story that despite it all, we can't give up and we have to keep pushing for fulfillment and that we need to be grateful and accept.

All in all a very complex movie, which is surprising for such a simple story.

I liked it enough to give it a seven, which I very rarely do because I find most movies tough to sit through because characters and plots these days are so dark and insufferable. But this was different. The story wasn't joyful, but it wasn't exactly melancholy either. It wasn't full of dread, but at the same time there was a moment when the woman asked the alien a question about the future of Earth and he looked at her in a way that sent a shiver down my spine. Are we doomed as a species? Sadly I think we might be. And this film suggested as much. But even if we are, it doesn't mean we can't do what we can to make things better while we are still here. And I found that takeaway to be dare I say inspirational.

Unless it's a big studio picture, go into watching a film with very little expectation or understanding of what it's going to be. Even seeing the trailer for this I wasn't quite sure what the story was other than a little girl buried an alien's stone in the desert and years later he returns to get it. Okay, cute. But then we started watching, and in actuality that's not even what this film is about. It's really about a person who over time has completely lost herself and she embarks upon a journey to discover her purpose and internal harmony. Thing is, she doesn't even realize she's on the journey because she's too scared to admit to herself that everything isn't fine. But to everyone around her, it's glaringly obvious that things are miles from fine. So that's the really interesting thing- the journey that she takes that gets her to the place where she has to admit everything is a train wreck. And low in behold, that's where the healing begins.....

Fantastic film. Entertaining, humorous, and heartfelt.

It seems any time I try to find something to watch these days the only options are movies with tons of guns and violence or movies about serial killers. I get that people love those types of movies but what about the rest of us? Well, this film was a DELIGHT. Great acting, a quiet story and relevant timely themes. There are a few mature scenes- like the main character having sex with her husband on the kitchen table and a few arguments where profanity flies loud and proud, but other than that, it's a clean movie that kids of all ages can watch and appreciate.

In terms of stand out performances, I'd say the mother and the government agent take the cake. What wonderful and underrated actors! Great to see a movie made this well give them a chance!

Very good film! Enjoyable watch! The main character is appealing to watch and understand in a deeply personal journey of discovery and awaken. Mother is a sad and troubled person who lives in a dark place and grow complacent but in final moment of life is awaken to beauty and joy! Husband very selfish man who only think of own wants and desires and happy he left! Main character better off without him! The desert quite beautiful landscape but also very lonely and that to me is perfect position for story to be told. I like the dog very much as well, as it is a gentle guide instead of treacherous demon. We can all learn so much!

I've been an admirer of Janet Grillo's work all the way back when she was working at New Line and ep-ed films like Pump Up the Volume and Joe the King. Beyond producing, she's a fantastic director too, Fly Away being proof of her attention to detail and ability to tell a tightly woven character driven narrative. And this film is no exception. What made me love this movie so much wasn't so much the way characters talked, but rather the things we were shown with the lens. The dark nature of the house and how it slowly became bright and full of color, the way the desert itself became more beautiful as the central character opened herself up to reality. It's all very subtle, but it's the mark of a master director, and this will go down as another fantastic film from a fantastic director.