Review: 'The Way' Is A Worthwhile Journey

By Michael Lopez

Ever wonder what the rest of the Sheen family was up to during Charlie's meltdown. Dad Martin and brother Emilio were busy making the independent film, The Way. And truth be told, they've created a very uplifting movie. One which a certain former TV star could draw quite a bit of inspiration from.

Taking cues from both The Wizard of Oz and Biutiful, The Way celebrates themes like life and redemption. Emilio Estevez wrote and directed the project, supposedly using his own son Taylor as inspiraton. And with that parental relationship in mind, who better to cast in the lead than family patriarch, Martin Sheen?

At 71-years-old, Papa Sheen truly shines in this role. And we've got to give him a lot of credit for this one. Martin isn't just reciting lines from a rocking chair, he's crisscrossing northern Spain, diving into lakes, and "roughing it" with a cast of lovable Europeans.

The film's premise revolves around the Spanish pilgrimage of Camino de Santiago. Also known as "The Way of St. James," its history goes back for centuries. Thousands of travelers make the 140-mile trek each year for a variety of personal reasons. There's the religious angle (the remains of the apostle James are buried at the final stop), the adventurer angle, and even the calorie-burning angle.

Sheen's character actually takes on the hike begrudgingly. His son Daniel (played briefly by Emilio) died during the pilgrimage, so he decides to finish the journey carrying Daniel's ashes along the way. Throughout the expedition, he encounters three very colorful companions, each with their own personal reason for walking The Way.

We've got to hand to Estevez, he's crafted a very mature and thought-provoking script. One of the most interesting aspects of The Way is watching Martin's character evolve from cranky non-believer, to compassionate, soulful explorer. Sheen delivers a fantastic performance in this film. And though we're sure it won't get as much attention as his upcoming Spider-Man role, it's one any acting fan should seek out.

Bottom line: This film does a great job of delivering an inspirational message without shoving religion down your throat. Instead, notions like friendship, compassion, and redemption are thrown to the forefront (along with the gorgeous Galician countryside). We don't care what faith you adhere to, it'll be hard to resist booking a trip to northern Spain after watching The Way.

Have you ever taken a spiritual journey? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Camino de Santiago, Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheen, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Religion, The Way