The Way 2010

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: It's a plucky film that covers a lot of ground and uncovers this wonderful, ancient ritual that people of many faiths and from all walks of life take on. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: Heartfelt if occasionally plodding. Read more

Neil Genzlinger, New York Times: Mr. Estevez is both writer and director of this film, and also turns up in a small role, but he gives the spotlight to his father, who makes quite a lot out of a low-key story that could easily have degenerated into mush. Read more

Alison Willmore, Time Out: The Way's honey-toned landscapes and shots of alfresco meals shared by international pilgrims at rustic albergues are enough to make anyone ready a backpack and head off on walkabout. Read more

Tasha Robinson, AV Club: In many ways a cut-and-dried, by-the-numbers road picture, The Way puts Sheen on the Camino for a life-changing journey, but over the course of the trip, the film changes as much as he does. Read more

Kerry Lengel, Arizona Republic: "The Way" is overly earnest and clumsily directed by Emilio Estevez (the non-prodigal son of Sheen). Yet it is nonetheless effective in evoking empathy and introspection. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: The dialogue in "The Way'' is sincerely platitudinous, and Estevez has less of an idea about where to put the camera than when he started two decades ago. He is - how to put this? - not a good director. Read more

Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader: For all his awkwardness Estevez is undeniably sincere, regarding both people and nature with disarming good will and maintaining a steady, soothing pace that allows the life lessons to resonate. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: Charlie Sheen, Estevez's brother, is nowhere in sight, though there are times the film could use a shot of tiger blood. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: There is nothing terribly spiritual about the journey for any of these people, and yet the sheer arduousness of the trek, the beauty of the countryside, and the personal revelations that ensue all combine to create a transcendent haze. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: There's a contemplative loveliness to The Way, an affecting personal project both for Emilio Estevez, who wrote, directed, and plays a small role, and for his father, Martin Sheen. Read more

Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times: The father-son dynamic is played just right, Tom's sightings of his deceased son arriving at key moments. If only that resonance carried into the rest of the story's episodic progression. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Estevez does embrace the spiritual and religious elements of his movie. But he's as interested in the journey as the destination. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: There's nothing startlingly original about Estevez's screenplay, yet it has a modesty you seldom see when Hollywood tackles spiritual subjects. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: A heartfelt project, scrappy and engaging, The Way has its way with audiences despite, not because of, its sentimental excess. Read more

Richard Roeper, Richard Roeper.com: "The Way" is one of the better films of the year. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: It's a sweet and sincere family pilgrimage, even if a little too long and obvious. Audiences seeking uplift will find it here. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: Open yourself up to this thoughtful, moving personal adventure and you're in for a uniquely memorable experience. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: With "The Way," writer-director Emilio Estevez has made a respectable failure. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: It could have come out sentimental, but doesn't. The secret is the matter-of-factness. Read more

Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "The Way" might have been a bit more eventful. Still, it's good company. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: Okay, since the destination is preordained, what does the script do en route? Estevez's answer is two-fold: minor episodic adventures + incessantly repeated montages. Read more

Cath Clarke, Time Out: It goes on and on, and just when you think you can't take any more insufferably trite good intentions, it keeps on going. Read more

Bruce Demara, Toronto Star: Estevez takes full advantage of the beautiful mountain scenery, dramatic skies and ancient architecture to give us moments of quiet wonder. Read more

Nick Schager, Village Voice: [The] dramatically inert, spiritually generic The Way seems like it was far more fun to shoot than it is to endure. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: A sensuous, expansive hymn to travel and transformation in a movie that honors earthly pleasures as readily as it contemplates higher things. Read more