Two Tickets to Paradise

Great Road Picture

     

Grabbed this one from the shelf one rainy afternoon while visiting my sister & was pleasantly surprised. Didn't know any of the cast before watching, but was thoroughly entertained by them. In a nutshell, three best buds are going through some tough mid-life crisis times. Circumstances bring them together on a road trip all the way to Florida to see "the big game." Havoc ensues. I was very impressed by the former-jock-with-a-gambling-problem character. There's a certain intensity to him that compels me to care whether or not he can turn his life around and still remain friends with his buddies. Of course, it's not all drama. There are several comic turns (thank goodness not totally slapstick stuff) and some obligatory frat-type jokes, but overall, really engaging & entertaining. The sports gambler brings it home at the end with a heartfelt speech about friendship that really sucker-punched me. The movie could have ended right there, but I'm glad it didn't. By that point I really needed to see if he'd truly turned his life around. This one's worth your time.