Search - In Search Of America on DVD

A charming & promising idea from the 1960s

William Timothy Lukeman | 09/16/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Obviously intended as the pilot for a series, this little TV-movie offers a charming take on "dropping out and finding yourself." When college student Jeff Bridges decides to do just that, his parents & grandmother accompany him in a rebuilt school bus (pre-Partridge Family). What's interesting about the story is that his father (Carl Betz), initially skeptical about the whole idea, soon endorses it heartily. Clearly the father has as many questions about who he is & where his life has brought him as his son does, making this an intelligent midlife story as well as the first step of Bridges' journey towards wholeness.If the storyline offers certain cliches & is forced to conform to the restrictions of network TV, it makes the most of it. Both generations are viewed sympathetically, yet with an eye for its own flaws & self-delusions; both generations will grow & learn from each other on this journey. A pity it wasn't made into a series, as the concept was quite promising.Still, we have this short film, which serves as a reminder of a time when it was thought important & vital to take some time off from everyday life, and to get a new perspective on where you were & where you might be going. Current culture may dismiss such ideas with a disdainful laugh, but it's still just as important. So hop on the bus & check it out!"

"Black Belt in mouth Karate"

howard jones | McPherson, Kansas United States | 10/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a excellent film. It seemed corny at first with the family of Jeff Bridges being "squares" in the classic middle class family way, but wait till they take off in the bus to meet some of son Jeff Bridges friends at a hippie rock concert. There they meet Tyne Daly of "Cagney&Lacy fame as a knocked up hippie chick who wants to do natural childbirth in their cardboard box house they built. Sal Mineo many good lines as a good hearted hippie with an attitude in his open vest and motorcycle, he gets the great honor of saying "She has a black belt in mouth karate" and at the close of this great gem Sal gives the immortal "Peace sign" to the newly enlightened family of squares as they leave hippie land and down the road to their next adventure.
I fell into an intense fondness for this film after about 20 mintues into it. I recommened it highly. This film made me feel young again."