All Roads Lead to Home

Directed by Darren Scott

Positive Space Pictures

2024

All Roads Lead to Home, the latest feature from writer and director Darren Scott, is a feel-good comedy/drama that follows two aspiring musicians – Amy (Imogen Archer) and Matt (Frederick Szkoda) – who meet when both are going through a calamitous period of their lives and embark on a road trip together to find themselves.

It’s a bit of a bumpy path to get into film. Despite the excellent performance from Imogen Archer, who carries the opening segments, much of the scripting feels a touch too broad; exaggerating the calamities that befall Amy to the point where it strips a little bit of the pathos from the film.

The film recovers, eventually becoming a well-made, if predictable, platonic dramedy about embracing our wants and needs. But there is a sense that Scott had the middle and end of his film planned out perfectly and struggled with the opening gambit of bringing the two leads together.

Once the dissatisfied and jilted Amy eventually meets grieving, down-on-his-luck musician Matt their chemistry together binds the film. It’s easy to get drawn into the pair’s budding friendship and Matt’s earnest desire to follow in his parents’ footsteps provides a gentle, entertaining backdrop.

As All Roads Lead to Home is focused on the musical aspirations of its leads – as much as their own personal growth – the soundtrack plays a key part in the enjoyment of the role. Luckily, it’s here where the film really shines. The songs, primarily written by Darren Scott and Jason Havard, are genuinely good, and performed well by the cast.

The tracks avoid the cloying, tweeness of similarly musical films like God Help the Girl (Stuart Murdoch, 2014) and instead go some way to drive the narrative forward.

As we build to the finale, there are a few roadblocks. Primarily these are some bizarre choices for the character of Matt, including checking Amy’s phone, which happens twice but is never believable. While no doubt designed to highlight his insecurities, the excellent performance from Szkoda negates much of this.

It’s possible that the script would have benefited from some minor tweaks, especially after seeing the chemistry between the two, and instead had Amy’s own feelings towards her cheating ex – which have been built up more fully – drive the temporary wedge between the two leads.

Still All Roads Lead to Home is a gentle and satisfying film on balance, which achieves pretty much everything it set out to do. Once the plot is fully underway, it overcomes the more artificial-feeling conflict points and, honestly, it’s a joy to see two actors having so much fun on screen. The performances of Archer and Szkoda truly lift this film.

★★★

3 / 5

Matthew Tilt

Twitter @Matthew_Tilt

For more info check out the film's website and also the trailer below.

www.allroadsleadtohome.com