There is a dichotomy with this movie: Parents have rebuffed authority but demand complete obedience from their children. The "Pope" family consists of a father (Arthur = Judd Hirsch), a mother (Annie = Christine Lahti), and two young sons (River Phoenix and Jonas Abry). The parents have been on the lam from American authorities since 1971, when, as college students they belonged to an underground left wing violent activist group (like the Weather Underground). They bombed a napalm laboratory to protest the Vietnam War, seriously injuring a janitor in the process. As they are not accountable for their actions, they change their names and run away from place to place. Not only do the parents fabricate stories, they force their children to follow suit. When the Feds eventually close in, they pack up quickly and evacuate. In a very early movie scene, as they escape the grasp of authorities, they heartlessly abandon their family dog in a busy parking lot. They assume that someone will pick him up. I wish they could have dropped the little critter off to an animal shelter along the way, but it was not to be. While the fugitive parents may love their sons, they are plainly selfish. As they force their growing children to continually change their names, addresses, personal histories, how can these kids grow up normally? And that is, of course, the gist of the movie. Problems arise as the older son, Danny (River Phoenix) is coming of college age. There needs to be stability here. Because of the constant changing of schools, his academic records are not available. Danny is a talented pianist, a fact which often brings in unwanted attention. As lie upon lie piles on, it is almost impossible to get Danny a college education. His personal conflict is that, even if he gets into the college of his choice, Julliard, he may never see his parents again.
The situation gets even more complicated when Danny falls in love with Lorna (Martha Plimpton) at his latest high school (in New Jersey). More situations arise, and when the ending comes, it is a bit of a tearjerker. But it is difficult for this writer to sympathize with the uncompromising parents (particularly the father) who care little about the fateful consequences of their extreme actions. But we continually root for the "normalcy" of Danny and his little brother.
"Running on Empty" is sensitively produced and directed; it is not an expensive film. The performances of the major actors are excellent. And catch that poignant restaurant scene when Annie Pope meets her father (Steven Hill) for the first time in many years. Now the feature does not justify the lawless actions of the parents although some sympathy filters through to them. A plus is James Taylor's fine recording, "Fire and Rain." The real tragedy is that River Phoenix, a remarkably talented young actor, did not live beyond age 23. What a waste!
The situation gets even more complicated when Danny falls in love with Lorna (Martha Plimpton) at his latest high school (in New Jersey). More situations arise, and when the ending comes, it is a bit of a tearjerker. But it is difficult for this writer to sympathize with the uncompromising parents (particularly the father) who care little about the fateful consequences of their extreme actions. But we continually root for the "normalcy" of Danny and his little brother.
"Running on Empty" is sensitively produced and directed; it is not an expensive film. The performances of the major actors are excellent. And catch that poignant restaurant scene when Annie Pope meets her father (Steven Hill) for the first time in many years. Now the feature does not justify the lawless actions of the parents although some sympathy filters through to them. A plus is James Taylor's fine recording, "Fire and Rain." The real tragedy is that River Phoenix, a remarkably talented young actor, did not live beyond age 23. What a waste!