Running on Empty

While River Phoenix delivers an exceptional performance, this film may not appeal to teens due to its slower pace and adult themes. Some romantic content is present, mainly kissing, but whether more than that occurs is unspecified. Language is frequent, and by modern standards would bump the film up to an R rating. Overall, an interesting film that will stir emotions in older audiences.

I love this movie. While it's rarely talked about now it is one of the most emotional movies I've ever watched. The story follows a couple (Judd Hirsch and Christine Lahti) who had protested the Vietnam War in the 60's and have since been running from the FBI. Their oldest son, Danny (the late River Phoenix), is at the age he'd naturally be going out on his own. He's also a talented pianist and dazzles his music teacher and also begins to form a romance with the teachers daughter (Martha Plimpton). The movie is filled with incredible performances, brilliant dialogue and scenes that break and warm your heart simultaneously. The film also serves as a tribute to the late great River Phoenix as he gives the performance that would nominate him for an Academy. It's a movie about your past. This movie asks the question should you continue to run and hurt from it or should you be forgiven. However, in this case, Danny's running from a past he had nothing to do with.

This is a really great film with outstanding cast performances, centering around a family on the run from the FBI. Unfortunately, their oldest son falls in love with a girl on one of their stops and wants to be left behind. There is a good deal of cursing and quite a few uses of f**k. There's a couple heated kissing scene between two teenagers and it's implied that they had sex after one. The father is shown drunk. However, this movie is very touching and worth seeing.