tleeg1 Well, there's an all star cast. That's a plus. Its 93 minutes- another plus. I had to watch viewing in thirds; it was so boring. As a rule I like movies that are supposed to make you think. All I could think was "Quit sticking your hands into his ashes!!" And what the heck has Jessica Lange done to her eyes?!!!? Scary! Every line was predictable; Arvillas hand was in that container like it was a cookie jar; I half expected her to have cookies in there, with her husbands ashes. Tom Skerrit had a lame role. This is NO Steel Magnolias folks! Now granted I've not seen the ending yet- I've just seen the second 30 minute installment, because I have to take a nap its so boring. Its a good thing I bought it at a dollar store for four bucks- I'd like to have three bucks back. Of course you can buy it just to figure out what Jessica has done to her eyes, each time she runs her hands through her husbands remains- gag....even Kathy Bates lines are mediocre... After my nap, I'll try to finish the last 30 minutes...yawn...

willcat I thought the movie was great.The characters were believable and enjoyable.The plot was a simple one it's a road movie.Due to a death our hero's must travel to another town using a shiny red Bonneville.It is kind like watching Golden Girls on vacation. Usually with this type of movie they drag the audience off to some sub plot where I tend to fall asleep.Bonneville kept moving and never dragged.It covers a hard subject with a gentle touch.The movie shows the audience that no matter how old you are you can go on a trip and have laughs,tears,and lots of fun with good friends.You can even learn something new about a friend you have known for twenty years.I would recommend this movie to everyone.Bonneville gave me the same feelings as Fried Green Tomatoes.It was a woman empowering movie.As women get older they decide maybe for the first time in their life. They decide what they want to do, not what someone else wants them to do.This movie was not a ground shaking film where thousands of repressed women were released from shackle's but just a small step in the right direction for women in general.

TxMike This movie plays out as a road trip for 3 women from Idaho who are good friends, but the core of the story is how one woman handles the loss of her husband of 20 years, with conflicting motives for his remains.Jessica Lange is Arvilla, she is the second wife. Her husband's body has just been cremated as Christine Baranski as her husband's deceased daughter Francine shows up. Francine feels very strongly that her dad's ashes belong in California along with her mother's remains.But Arvilla reminds Francine (no love there between the two) that his wishes were to remain with Arvilla, who cannot bear the thought of him ending up near Francine's mother. Surely it is spelled out in the will.But there is no will, seems he never got around to writing a new one, and the only valid will has him not only being with his first wife, but also giving the house to Francine. Because it was made before he and Arvilla ever became a couple.But Francine, in her "generosity", will allow Arvilla to keep the home in Idaho if she will get the ashes to California for the memorial service.Kathy Bates as Margene and Joan Allen as Carol agree to go along for moral support, they were all to fly from Salt Lake City, but Arvilla has a change of plans -- they will drive there in the 1966 Bonneville that was her husband's pride possession.Along the way Arvilla stops off at various places that had special meaning to her and her deceased husband. Each time she scatters a little bit of his ashes, I suppose figuring that Francine didn't need all of the ashes. Along the way they also meet up with some characters. Tom Skerritt is Emmett, the trucker, he and Margene seem to hit it off. Young Victor Rasuk is Bo Douglas, working his way to New Mexico to find his father.A decently entertaining movie. Good actors.SPOILERS: As it turns out Arvilla scatters all of his ashes, but quick-thinking and practical Carol scoops up some ashes from a campfire. Although late for the service they finally show up, but a trip-up causes the urn to fall to the floor and shatter, scattering ashes everywhere, including the beer bottle cap. Busted!! But in the end Arvilla knew she did what she had to do, and if she lost her house she would make out OK with friends like Carol and Margene. Or, it may be a good use for the $176,000 that Carol guiltily won in the Vegas slot machine, from tokens given to her by a hooker when her 'john' showed up.

gradyharp BONNEVILLE creeps up on the viewer. It is a solid marriage of light comedy and sentiment and the somewhat slight story is brought to life by the natural gifts of a trio of superb actors. Why it did not find popularity in the theaters is probably due to the topic of death and the cast of 'older actresses', but it is a solid little film that deserves more attention. Arvilla (Jessica Lange) has lost her husband of 20 years and promised to scatter his ashes over places the couple loved. Her step daughter Francine (Christine Baranski) demands the 'ashes' be buried next to her mother's grave in Santa Barbara, threatening her stepmother with eviction from her Pocatello, Idaho home if Arvilla doesn't comply. Two of Arvilla's friends - the restless widow Margene (Kathy Bates) and the oh-so-Mormon Carol (Joan Allen) support their friend and plan to fly with Arvilla to take the ashes to Santa Barbara. But circumstances begin to change when the threesome bond tightly and decide to take Arvilla's husband's old Bonneville on a road trip to California. From here on the film is a Road Trip - a time when the three women learn lessons about life and death and love and compassion from each other - and from a young hitchhiker Bo (Victor Rasuk of 'Saving Victor Vargas', 'Stop- Loss' etc) and trucker Emmett (Tom Skirrett). The trip from Idaho to California passes through some of the Southwest's most beautiful scenery, places once shared by Arvilla and her late husband, and slowly the urn of ashes is distributed along the way to the dreaded Santa Barbara funeral. Christopher N. Rowley directs this sweet story by Daniel D. Davis with great respect for the gifts of the three fine actors, allowing them to show us just why they remain some of our finest talent on the screen. It is not a great film, but it has such a fine heart that we can relax and just ride along with it. Grady Harp