Along for the Ride (2001)

In the vast expanse of the Mexican desert, two alienated brothers, Terry and Vance Cowens, are drawn together by a shared duty. Propelled by their father’s death, their paths, divergent since childhood, now intertwine on a desolate highway, igniting a collision course of grievances, frustrations, and long-buried resentments. Their father, Jake, an absentee parent and minor league baseball player, chased fleeting glory, ultimately retiring to a solitary existence in Mexico, leaving Terry and Vance grappling with the void he left behind. Now, they reunite in an arduous journey to collect their father's body, preserved unexpectedly in a cantina's walk-in freezer, and lay him to rest. As the desert landscape unfurls around them, Jake’s frozen corpse in the back seat serves as a chilling companion, a silent arbiter compelling the brothers to confront their tumultuous past and each other. Terry, a former major league pitcher, and Vance, a letter carrier, peel back layers of their childhood, dredging up old arguments and reopening past wounds. The cathartic journey through the stark desert backdrop forces the brothers to grapple with the spectral imprint of their father on their lives. Their journey, surreal and poignant, evolves into more than just a final farewell to their father. The starlit desert, the silent night, and their father's icy presence in the back seat become a crucible for reconciliation, forcing Terry and Vance to confront the ghosts of their past. As they navigate the emotional labyrinth, they eventually unearth a resolution, not just for their father's body, but also for their burdened souls. In a world teeming with therapeutic solutions, they discover that sometimes, a long, introspective drive under the Mexican stars with a symbol of their shared past can prove more healing than any therapy. "Along for the Ride" is a testament to the transformative power of shared memories, familial bonds, and the stark honesty of grief, set against the raw beauty of the Mexican desert.

Along for the Ride is a drama movie featuring Randall Batinkoff and directed by Bryan W. Simon.

Along for the Ride is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Tubi TV.

It is also possible to buy Along for the Ride on Amazon Video.