Riding the Bus with My Sister

8 June 2013

Riding the Bus with My Sister 2005

• Director: Anjelica Huston
• Based on book  by Rachel Simon
• Cast: Rosie O’Donnell, Andie MacDowell, Richard T. Jones, DW Moffat, Roberta Maxwell
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Rosie O’Donnell – Wide Awake, Beautiful Girls, Sleepless in Seattle, A League of Their Own
• Andie MacDowell -  Tara Road, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Groundhog Day, Sex Lies & Video Tapes
• Richard T. Jones   – Moonlight Mile, Kiss the Girls
• DW Moffat – Traffic
• Roberta Maxwell – Brokeback Mountain, Dead Man Walking, Philadelphia
• Why bought: Cheap, I guess. And I like busses.
• Seen: May 31, 2013

If I’d noticed this was a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie I would have been prepared for the sugary greeting card feel to this movie but I didn’t so I wasn’t.

The subject is worthy. Of course we should treat every individual with respect, no matter how “different” (the word used in the film) he/she is and this person should of course have as decent a life as possible. I suppose the sad fact that this isn’t the case makes a movie like this necessary.

But oh, the clichés! Neurotic, selfish, rich fashion photographer sister Rachel is forced (why not the brother??) into dealing with obnoxious steamroller “different” sister Beth when their father dies. Rachel discovers that 1) Beth is known and beloved by all the ordinary folks she meets on her daily bus rides including the simple, good-hearted movie star handsome bus driver Rick, and 2) love and having a baby is more important than an all-consuming career.

Of course said career becomes a great success when Rachel’s photos of Beth and friends are exhibited in a classy New York gallery.

This is supposedly based on a true story but I’m sure there are plenty of true stories out there about siblings who aren’t rich and fashionable and neurotic who are just trying to get on with their low-paying jobs, or their jobs in which they are already trying to help people in trouble, and have to deal with a situation like this. I’d rather see a film about that. Or just watch Rain Man again.

This one is not a keeper.

1* of 5