Common Sense Media Review
By Stefan Pape
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Moving British drama about grief has some language and sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Last Bus
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE LAST BUS tells the story of Tom (Timothy Spall), an elderly man who is terminally ill. His wife, Mary (Phyllis Logan), recently passed away, and so he decides, even in his poor health, to travel from his home at one end of the U.K. all the way back to his birthplace -- which happens to be at the other end of the country -- to scatter Mary's ashes. And what's more, he intends to complete this trip solely by bus.
Is It Any Good?
This British drama has such a tender, heart-warming premise, that is incredibly difficult not to be moved by it. In some ways, and despite being a live-action movie as opposed to an animated tale, The Last Bus draws comparisons to Pixar's Up. Be warned, Spall's portrayal of Tom, an elderly man traveling across the country to take his wife's ashes back to her home town, is going to make you cry.
But director Gillies MacKinnon and writer Joe Ainsworth perhaps just need to remember that sometimes, less is more. Some of the drama feels contrived, when there's more than enough already deriving from the profound, overriding narrative. Tom becoming a social media celebrity feels unnecessary and there's far too many horrible people that he encounters on his journey. While these objectionable characters are needed to highlight Tom's righteousness, there are more subtle ways to achieve this. There's also a needless addition of flashbacks, which brings little to the story. But Spall is brilliant, as always, in the lead role. He's so committed to his characters and brings so much conviction in his performances. And this role is no exception, with his portrayal elevating the material.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Last Bus explores themes around grief. How did his wife's death impact Tom? Have you experienced the loss of a family member? How did you feel? Movies to help kids deal with grief.
What character strengths did Tom show? Why are these such important traits to have? Can you think of any occasions when you've shown these traits?
Tom traveled a great distance to get to a place of important to him. Discuss any particular places that mean a lot to you and the reasons why.
Talk about some of the language used, especially the xenophobic and Islamophobic slurs. What did it add to the story?
How did the movie portray sex? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 18, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : February 18, 2022
- Cast : Timothy Spall , Phyllis Logan , Celyn Jones
- Director : Gillies MacKinnon
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Samuel Goldwyn Films
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 14, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate