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The Road to Galena
By Monique Jones,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Meandering drama about adulthood has language, suicide.
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The Road to Galena
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What's the Story?
THE ROAD TO GALENA is a drama about Cole (Ben Winchell), who grows up in the farm country of Maryland and wants to be a farmer himself. But his father (Jay O. Sanders) doesn't agree and wants Cole to get a high-powered job so that he can provide for himself. As life goes on and leads Cole further away from his dream, he starts to lose himself -- until tragedies make him realize that his life is all about the choices that make him happy.
Is It Any Good?
This drama has a good story at its core, but it gets to the point too late. It has a nearly two-hour runtime, and, within those two hours, plot points go by very slowly. Perhaps if it had been a TV series like Parenthood or This Is Us, the pacing would make more sense, since the moments in Cole's life are set up similar to TV episodic beats.
The Road to Galena might also have been more enjoyable had it been more tightly written. That said, the film does have a positive message about following your heart, regardless of what friends and family who don't understand your vision might have to say. It just would have been nicer if the story was told in an hour and 30 minutes or less, instead of nearly two hours.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Cole's dreams. What did he want out of life? Why did his father disagree?
How is mental health portrayed in The Road to Galena? How does it compare to the way other films have addressed the topic?
How does Cole show integrity and compassion?
Talk about suicide and the way it's addressed in this film. When is it important to talk about mental health, especially if you're worried about a friend or family member? What resources are available to help both kids and adults?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 8, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: July 8, 2022
- Cast: Ben Winchell , Will Brittain , Aimee Teegarden , Jennifer Holliday
- Director: Joe Hall
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Black actors
- Studio: Vertical Entertainment
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 110 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language
- Last updated: December 10, 2023
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