The scenes between Jack Lemmon and Sarah Paulson make The Long Way Home
something special. This Hallmark Channel TV film explores the problems of old
age when you feel you have no purpose any more.
Lemmon is playing someone in his own age bracket, a 70 something widower who
went to war in World War II, married a hometown sweetheart and raised a family.
Now he lives with one of his sons Garwin Sanford and Kristin Griffith and they
fuss over him like he's an invalid.
He's hardly that, in fact he was a cabinetmaker an honorable craft which he was employed at for almost half a century. Lemmon looks like a man who took pride in his work.
One day when the circus comes to town he plays hooky. He meets Sarah
Paulson a girl who is traveling west to rejoin her parents in California. The
two of them just hit it off, he's the grandfather she never had. Lemmon and
Paulson decide to journey together, Lemmon to meet up with an old girlfriend
Betty Garrett, a widow who lives near Paulson's parents.
Lemmon and Garrett have a wonderful reunion scene. Lemmon's in Kansas and she's in California. Geography is against them in the romance department, but it's not insurmountable.
Lemmon also learns quite a life lesson from meeting Paulson's parents, especially her father. As that immortal 20th century philosopher Yogi Berra
put it, it ain't over till it's over.
The Long Way Home is a wonderful duel character study and inspiring, especially to an old codger like me.
The Long Way Home
1998
Action / Adventure / Drama / Family
The Long Way Home
1998
Action / Adventure / Drama / Family
Plot summary
A retired widower wanders away from his daughter's home, hooks up with a free-spirited young woman, and goes on a cross-country odyssey to look up an old flame he's recently heard from after 55 years.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
October 20, 2020 at 05:05 PM
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
It's not over till it's over
really good.
Warm and thoughtful movie, about standing at a roadblock not knowing which way 2 go... But then along comes your going to be best friend. LOVED IT James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 04/11/2021.
Bridging Generational Gaps
This movie is pure bliss to watch, Jack Lemmon makes it so. Such a shame we shall never see more of his films. I'm used to seeing Mr. Lemmon play old cranks, politicians, businessmen, etc but in this role he stands out as Tom Gerrin, a 75 year old retired carpenter. Mr. Lemmon not only looks like the retired carpenter you almost forget he is an actor.
The best part of this movie is it demonstrates how friendship knows no age limits. In fact friendship between two people from completely different generations can easily bridge the gap. I would know as one of my closest friends is an 82 year old former professor of mine. When I watch this movie I think of our times we meet and swap stories from out past.
What also contributes to the friendship and the bridging of the generational gaps is also the message of "the golden years should not mean a death sentence." This movie is about living one day at a time and enjoying life no matter what age you are.
In closing Jack Lemmon made this movie. Cheers to him and God rest his soul. Pick up this movie on DVD on amazon.com. It will make you glad for the friendships you will make with all sorts of people and give you and outlook for enjoying life.