“…a heartwarming yet realistic story of a ragtag group of young adults struggling with their mental illness and the shame…”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, tens of millions of people in the United States suffer from some sort of mental illness. Despite this staggering statistic, only about half of those affected receive treatment. Perhaps it’s the prominent stigma associated with a mental illness. For cancer patients, there is chemotherapy. For broken bones and cuts, there are casts and bandages. However, for those suffering from mental illness, there is no surefire cure for them. Instead, many find themselves attempting to cope with their symptoms along with uneasy looks from complete strangers. There are accepted norms in our society, and anyone deviating from the expected social script isn’t welcome. The Road Within (directed by Gren Wells, 2014) is a heartwarming yet realistic story of a ragtag group of young adults struggling with their mental illness and the shame that comes with coping.

Vincent (played by Robert Sheehan) has been plagued by random, inappropriate outbursts of verbal and physical tics from a young age when he was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. After the death of his mother, his father (played by Robert Patrick) is far too busy with his political campaign and far too embarrassed by his son’s outbursts to look after him. His father takes him to an experimental research clinic run by Dr. Mia Rose (played by Kyra Sedgwick) with the hopes that they might find a way to treat his condition. With the death of his mother still heavy on his heart, Vincent is compelled by an attractive anorexic girl named Marie (played by Zoë Kravitz) to steal Dr. Rose’s car and leave the clinic. When Vincent’s OCD new roommate Alex (played by Dev Patel) discovers their planned joyride, Vincent and Marie kidnap Alex to keep him from ratting them out. The three couldn’t be more different, and their respective mental illnesses each bring about debilitating hurdles to overcome on their way to the ocean where Vincent plans to scatter his mother’s ashes. When Dr. Rose and Vincent’s father pursue them, the unlikely trio will have to come together to work through their symptoms and their emotions in order to complete the road trip of a lifetime.

Don’t let the cheesy, Hallmark movie title fool you. This little film packs a surprising amount of warmth and heart. I actually caught myself grinning from ear to ear and bursting out laughing during some of the better scenes. The Road Within is a well-balanced film with good-natured humor and plenty of tender moments that will make you fall in love with these tragic characters. While each of their illnesses is unique, their individual symptoms create funny scenarios where they actually manage to complement one another. The acting by Robert Sheehan and Dev Patel in particular is incredible. Ever since I binge watched the Hulu original series Misfits, I’ve been a fan of Sheehan. His signature, curly-dark hair matched with his intense green eyes gives him a unique look. While his character in Misfits was entirely inappropriate and basically a sleazy jerk, in this film, Sheehan portrays the struggles with embarrassing outbursts flawlessly. He is truly an all-around talented dramatic actor, but Dev Patel also manages to steal the limelight at times. His neurotic and frantic character was acted with the same, if not more, talent and realism than Tony Shalhoub himself had in Monk.

Living with mental illness is a lifelong struggle for not only the diagnosed, but also their family. This film does a beautiful job explaining how difficult it can be for a parent of a child with mental illness. Despite Robert Patrick’s character essentially being the antagonist driving Vincent to prove his father’s assumptions about him are wrong, we can also recognize that his bad attitude and frustration with his son is somewhat understandable. It is also the perfect catalyst for these kids to find themselves in a situation where they will have no choice but to cope with the challenges of their illnesses while making do however they can. There is a perfect balance of respect for the illnesses themselves while expressing the need for maintaining a positive outlook and a sense of humor. While it is serious at times, the overall tone of The Road Within is positive and lighthearted. With moving performances and likeable characters literally on the road to recovery, this film gets a 9/10. They’re vulnerable, they’re quirky, but above all else, they’re determined to melt your heart.