Synopsis
Washed-up history professor Lewis Birch takes his begrudging teenagers Zoe and Jack on a road trip to a conference in hopes of jumpstarting his career and reconnecting with his kids. But, when Lewis’s estranged father Stanley goes missing on a Lewis and Clark historical reenactment trek, Lewis is forced to make a family detour. The Birch family find themselves on a journey of discovery and connection as they make their own passage west.
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Cast
- Griffin DunneLewis Birch
- Madeleine MartinZoe
- Cara BuonoNell
- Devon GrayeJack
- Dreama WalkerAbigail
- Becky Ann BakerMary
- Stuart MargolinStanley Birch
- David RascheCyrus Marshall
- John C. McGinleyBill Birch
- Ann DowdPatti
Recommendations
- 80
The New York Times
Mr. Schwarz falters with his ending, which feels overly tidy. Still, it’s not the destination; it’s the journey. - 75
Slant Magazine
It pushes itself beyond shrill predictability in its willingness to indict the public and familial histories at its core. - 75
New York Post
Writer-director Schwarz has a lot of fun with this nutty premise. And more important, the twisted dynamics of this particular family ring true. - 70
The Hollywood Reporter
More warm-hearted than funny, Schwarz's feature debut benefits from an intelligent script and sympathetic lead performance by Griffin Dunne - 70
Village Voice
The dysfunction may be perfunctory, but in this gorgeous natural setting — Schwarz makes full use of the stunning woods — it feels like new territory. - 63
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
The Discoverers showcases Dunne in a part he was born to play. - 60
Variety
Schwarz lacks the writing chops to adequately embed the character’s predictable learning curve into a richer narrative fabric, but Dunne’s perf is pitch-perfect. - 50
Los Angeles Times
Dunne creates a full-blooded character. The film around him, unfortunately, takes low-key to the realm of tepid.
