The Accidental Tourist [PG]

Macon Leary is a travel writer who specialises in writing for those poor businessmen who are required to travel when they’d rather be at home in their favourite armchairs. Since the death of his son, Macon has been on one business trip after another and his numb approach to life causes his wife to file for divorce. But then Macon meets romantically inclined and slightly odd dog-trainer Muriel and he discovers that his business attitude towards travel and life is just not the way to fly. 

This is a very special little movie. The way it’s filmed is just really lovely and original and the performances really help to create this feeling of numbness, which for me sets this movie aside from any others that I’ve seen. It’s really one of a kind. 

Macon Leary is a travel writer who specialises in writing for those poor businessmen who are required to travel when they’d rather be at home in their favourite armchairs. Since the death of his son, Macon has been on one business trip after another and his numb approach to life causes his wife to file for divorce. But then Macon meets romantically inclined and slightly odd dog-trainer Muriel and he discovers that his business attitude towards travel and life is just not the way to fly. 

This is the first time that I’ve sat down and watched this film and both my parents, when I told them, said “it’s sad isn’t it?” to which I replied “no it’s not sad, it’s just numb”. The seemingly unremarkable script, the reservedness of all the characters, aside from Muriel of course, the gloomy weather aesthetics and lack of light, and the lack of any changing soundtrack on the surface makes this film seem really boring, but what it’s actually doing is lulling the audience into a state of being akin to that of the protagonist. The result of this is that anything that comes along that goes against this numb and reserved setting, the character of Muriel or even a smile on Macon’s face causes a refreshing shock, like being thrown into a cold shower when you’re so hot you can no longer notice it. 

William Hurt’s performance as Macon I think was the real success agent in the mission of numbing the audience. He goes through the movie speaking in a monotone, hardly ever changing his face by a smile or a frown. Therefore, when he does actually raise his voice or inject a level of emotion into the performance, it comes as a real shock and you suddenly realised how good he really is. Geena Davis as Muriel really shimmers. She’s a breath of fresh air, so different and seemingly without inhibitions. Quirky little characters like that are always fun to watch. 

Starring Kathleen Turner, Amy Wright, David Ogden Stiers, Ed Begley Jr., and Bill Pullman, The Accidental Tourist is a surprisingly special little movie that’s filled with different country scenery, romance, drama, loss, and redemption. It really is something special and I thoroughly enjoyed it.