Off the Rails
Published 2021-11-23
Film info
- Title Off the Rails
- Director Jules Williamson
- Year 2021
- Run time 1hr 40m
- Genres Drama, Comedy
- Tagline Some trips stay with you for a lifetime
- Cast Judi Dench
Now in their 50s, four friends re-create an inter-rail journey across Europe, but this time 18-year-old Maddie is taking her mother's place, fulfilling her dying wish.
Live blog
| Time | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1:45 | A food diary with bonus existential crisis. |
| 3:27 | JUDI! |
| 6:17 | The only funeral song acceptable anymore is Bye Bye Baby. |
| 11:56 | "Why did we always end up on the bar?" |
| 18:03 | I don't enjoy a holiday where you need to bring your own bleach. |
| 23:31 | Blondie is good soundtrack music. |
| 26:36 | "Do you want one?" "I super don't." |
| 33:07 | Maddie's a little meddler! |
| 35:37 | I love a click of the fingers and "make it happen". |
| 45:12 | Is that the first Apple Pay reference in a movie?? Saved the day! |
| 47:40 | Do you have to buy a ticket for a goat on a train? |
| 51:41 | "For the love of god, wait for a doctor with hands!" |
| 1:07:46 | Ack, I hate the bit where it all goes wrong. |
| 1:16:50 | I can see through that plane... |
| 1:19:03 | No helmets, no insurance, foreign country, this is a great plan. |
| 1:24:45 | No Blondie allowed in the cathedral, obvs. |
Thoughts
You pretty much know what you're getting with this, a truly British film where four friends go travelling in memory of their sadly deceased friend/mum. They all have their own issues and there are some interesting relationship dynamics between them as well, so there's plenty of adventure along the way. I hadn't expected it to have such an emotional punch, what with Judi Dench making an appearance as a grieving mother, and the fact that this was Kelly Preston's last film before she died.
Good story, great characters, and all with a soundtrack of excellent Blondie songs. Every time another song came on, I was like, well that's it, they've run out of good Blondie songs now... and there was always another one just around the corner! Amazing.
Rating: 5 / 5