Written and directed by Gary Lundgren
Starring James LeGros, Jesse Borrego and Lisa Edelstein
Running time: 1 hour and 48 minutes
MPAA rating: R for language

by Stacey Osbeck

Bobby’s (James LeGros) already not so great life is headed downhill. The Italian restaurant where he bartends shows all signs of going out of business. He still lives in a silver Airstream trailer, despite his mother leaving him a chunk of change upon her passing. And he wants to finally finish the graphic novel about his life, but just can’t get around to it. This rut of midlife is where writer-director-editor Gary Lundgren begins his independent feature Phoenix, Oregon. 

Carlos (Jesse Borrego), Bobby’s friend since high school, works as the chef at the same restaurant and sees the writing on the wall. He’s been hatching a plan and proposes that now is the moment they take the leap. Over coffee, Carlos asks Bobby to close his eyes and visualize a better life. Bobby plays along for a minute, but can’t get into the spirit of it. Carlos takes him to a local defunct bowling alley. He’s been honing his skills for years to make the best pizza Oregon has ever tasted precisely for this type of opportunity. Carlos will run the kitchen and Bobby, a high school bowling champ, will run the lanes. Every aspect, every room needs work. Carlos tries to get Bobby to visualize, but again Bobby will only see the present reality. 

Tanya (Lisa Edelstein), the gorgeous local wine merchant who they know through the restaurant, hooks them up with a third investor and, with a bit of tooth pulling, Bobby is in. 

Since life seems to be going his way, Bobby takes a chance and asks Tanya out. The date is filled with a lot of laughter and good times and she sees something special in his artwork and encourages him to get it published. After they eventually spend the night together, his immature side kicks in and threatens to end a fledgling relationship. She’s finally had enough and tells him he’s never stopped being a fourteen year old boy.

Panels from Bobby’s graphic novel flash back to points throughout his life: his childhood, his failed marriage, his mother’s death. All of it leading up to now. This graphic novel is about his past and somehow he’s never quite finished with it.

It’s always fun in an independent film to see a couple actors you know and love in the mix. Diedrich Bader from The Beverly Hillbillies movie and Office Space plays an evil boss at the dying restaurant who demands the house take a cut of everyone’s tips. Kevin Corrigan from Goodfellas and Living in Oblivion portrays an intense bowling equipment repairman who takes on Bobby in the competition.

With a lot of hard work, the place is up and running. Bobby’s high school bowling skills never diminished and on the opening night competition he still has that teenage spark. His participation draws a big crowd and makes for a lively gathering.

When unforeseen events threaten the future of the business, Bobby blames Carlos and Tanya even though they are all equally screwed. This prompts Carlos to say, “You know Tanya’s right. You’re still a fourteen year old boy. You need to grow up.” 

Bobby’s only one step behind the audience in realizing maybe he doesn’t deserve friends like these. Any venture in life involves risk and behaving like his friends need to create a completely safe world in order for him to step out into it is childish. 

One of the things I liked best about this film is that it does not paint Bobby’s middle aged juvenile qualities as cute. Many movies will give the character a boyish charm pass or use it at the source of the humor.

If Bobby has trouble visualizing, he at least can see the reality in front of him: if he doesn’t ditch his immature ways he’s going to lose the people who matter. And that’s the other thing this film nails: it’s not just that it’s never too late to live the life of your dreams, it’s that growing up and creating your own destiny go hand in hand.

Watch Phoenix, Oregon digitally starting Friday, March 20 here - half the proceeds donated to struggling theaters.