REVIEW: Kodachrome takes a snapshot of troubled father and son arguing for the last time

REVIEW: Kodachrome has Ed Harris, Jason Sudeikis and Elizabeth Olsen; a road trip; some tough talk; some tougher love; and some fine acting. What’s not to like?

KODACHROME (M)

Rating: Three stars (3 out of 5)

Director: Mark Raso (Copenhagen)

Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Ed Harris, Elizabeth Olsen, Dennis Haysbert, Bruce Greenwood, Wendy Crewson.

A last chance to see what develops

A trio of fine lead performances effortlessly elevates Kodachrome, a modest American dramatic comedy some viewers may feel they have seen before.

The plot schematics are very basic, and perhaps could have used some further enhancement.

Ben (Ed Harris) is a legendary photographer with a just a few months left to live.

Having selfishly burned so many bridges for his career, Ben thinks there might be a measure of redemption to be found in four rolls of film that remain unprocessed in his archive.

Scene from the movie Kodachrome. Icon Films.

Time is of the essence, and not just due to his terminal diagnosis. There is only one photo lab left in the US that can handle the film stock exclusively used by Ben, and the Kodak company is about to close it forever.

Did someone say road trip? Probably not. But there is gonna be one anyway.

It will be Ben’s estranged and embittered music-exec son Matt (Jason Sudeikis) both taking the wheel, and taking the old man to task.

While the pair look to gain some final points in their lifelong grudge match, Ben’s nurse and personal assistant (Elizabeth Olsen) wisely referees and keeps score in the back seat.

The shattered relationship of Ben and Matt is what comes into clear and often unsightly focus as Kodachrome wears on.

Scene from the movie Kodachrome. Icon Films.

Harris, by virtue of his extensive experience in tough going, makes relatively light work of the heavy exchanges Ben must have with his son. However, it is the way in which Sudeikis rises to the occasion with Matt’s replies that equally impresses.

The natural, easygoing screen chemistry Sudeikis shares with Olsen is also a big plus here. Enough to leave you hoping they get to work together again soon.

Some very predictable twists and turns aside, possibly the only other aspect of Kodachrome that some may find fault with is how insular it gets with its music references.

If you do not hold a PhD in American alternate rock of the 1990s and early 2000s, some scenes will seem as if they are in a different language.

Scene from the movie Kodachrome. Icon Films.