User reviews

Slacker musician Leif Reinhold (Jake Johnson) is told of his estranged mother Honey (Susan Sarandon)'s death. She leaves him her a large cabin but the conditional inheritance comes with many tasks to complete. One of the tasks is to call his former love Audrey (D'Arcy Carden). Carl (J. K. Simmons) is Honey's ex.

Jake and D'Arcy have a nice comedic chemistry even on the phone. I wouldn't them doing something more in another movie. The phone sex is fun. They have the same comedic sensibility. They could have done more in this movie like talk about their past relationship. It would have been fine to have them talked the whole movie. Jake and J. K. are also good but they are one person removed. There is always going to be a hole in the middle of their connection. This is a fine little indie.

This story sounded cheesy and cliche, but it turned out to be quite a nice story.

The good: this movie has got a lighthearted, mellow, witty kinda feel to it.

More good: great actors, BUT they dont really excell at comedy. BUT it'll do...

The bad: the jokes are just not up there yet. They just miss the mark a bit. Still reasonably amusing to watch, but with some better direction and timing, it could have been funnier.

Not annoying. Only a bit slow. But the nice kind of slow...

6 and a half star is perfectly capturing the quality of this movie. But I'll upgrade it to 7 stars, because this movie is so nice and mellow... I liked that...

Leif is left his mother's cabin, but it comes with conditions, for him to inherit, he must complete a series of challenges that she's left him.

It's a very quirky, amusing, enjoyable film, it's light hearted, well meaning, it's happy to be a little bit different.

I can't say it's a raucous laugh out loud scream fest, it's not that kind of movie, but it is definitely an enjoyable watch. Jake Johnson is very good in the part, and as much as I hate the term, you really do see Leif embark on a journey.

The phone sex scene with Audrey was so funny, I watched with half a hand over my eyes, it was so cringe, but funny.

I love the fact that that was actually Jake Johnson's real life dog, you can see that there's a bond between the two.

Enjoyable. 7/10.

The film is a lot more emotional and engaging than I expected. Despite the grim subject, it still manages to maintain a light tone, which is good. I enjoyed watching it.

This film manages to capture the essence of what love is between a mother and her son.

The story deals with self-improvement that will always make us rethink the course of our lives and what we want to do with it, it also raises the strong relationship between a mother and her son despite the harshness and difficulties they have, there will always be affection between the two. It manages to capture how it is to deal with the grief that you have with someone close despite not knowing each other, proving that it is always good to smooth things over with someone you love because when they are gone you will understand how much you miss them. In the film it is portrayed that we must always express our feelings with ourselves and with the people we love since life is short and we should not waste it, just as we should enjoy it and learn from our mistakes. The character development is complete, the performances are good, the humor used sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, the ending is very long even though it is satisfying and emotional.

Although at first the film seems predictable, I think it is very enjoyable to see this love between mother and son, and how we should take advantage of life since it is very short, and how our personal maturity will make us enjoy life.

The movie currently is rated 6.6 on imdb and honestly, i think thats pretty fair. The movie is.....fine. I think Jake Johnson is very good in the movie and luckily he is the main star/focus. But despite that I just had a hard time really loving and getting into this movie. A lot of the dialogue just felt like they were trying too hard to be quirky. I also never really felt a connection between Leif and Audrey. They seemed more like brother and sister than love interest. Jk Simmons just plays another loud angry man that youve seen time and time again.

I really liked this films during the more quiet, reflective serious moments of the film. But unfortunately just too far and few between. Just too much "comedy" that consists of things like "Arent paintings of dogs in wigs funny?", "Isnt having every single cabinet in your kitchen filled with bags of weed funny?", etc.

Not the worst movie ever...just kind of forgettable.

"Satisfying, fun and well-worked trip."

Without standing out for its narrative, Ride the eagle is the story of a man who processes all the feelings derived from the loss of a close relative. A well-balanced, funny and sincere story, but at times it goes too fast.

The chemistry between the characters is very enjoyable and fun, especially the outstanding work of Jake Johnson and D'Arcy Carden. Ride the eagle, has a beautiful photography, a very good soundtrack, funny moments and good performances, a beautifully constructed film with an important message about the meaning of happiness and the importance of connecting and interacting with the people we love.

"Ride the eagle gets things done pretty well, a genuine and heartwarming film for these strange times"

Interesting movie. Not the best but not the worst. Mostly family complicated relationship stuff. A bit slow for awhile in the middle. Worth a watch though.

First off, not sure if this was written as a pandemic movie, or if they had to adapt it to pandemic conditions, but conceptionally it works without a pandemic and that's awesome.

Second, I think the algorithm got me, suggesting this via Hulu from my internet searches. My mother just passed away from covid, and i've had to deal with her estate. I heavily suspect google provided that information to hulu.

And now on content, this movie hits home in alot of areas. My mother was a bit crazy, had secrets, and weird stuff that i've been having to deal with in just sending her off. It's not a conditional list, but I think most people who die before their 70s aren't as prepared as they should be. This leaves alot of unfinished things. This movie's turn of using a mother who knows she is near death to send her son on missions is much less tragic and opens itself to a pleasant, although not hilarious, comedy. The characters go through many things that i've had to, but with different details. The main character gets through this and is a better person on the end, its definitely heartening to have that presented to me at this point. Good stuff.

Most famous for being shot during quarantine with the actors largely alone, this is more than just an experiment in monologue-based storytelling. It's a touching (a word that critics try to stay away from, but there I said it!) story of a guy crossing off his late mom's bucket list to get his inheritance of her house. On paper, the basis for the plot is a little contrived but it makes sense. There's a very sweet and natural-sounding courtship between two old exes (Good Place's D'Arcy Carden) as well as a fine exploration of an adult coming to grips with mommy issues.

Jake Johnson is one of the funniest people on this planet so I watch whatever he's in.

I liked the film, it's a light story, even though it revolves around his mother's passing.

There are some funny scenes and overall entertaining.

Watched this with my wife for about 20 minutes, and we couldn't take any more. Selected it because of the cast, but it's so corny, I was actually embarrassed for the performers. Was most definitely not funny, and I tend to laugh pretty easily. The 'list' the mom makes for the main character is pretty stupid, or at least the three items we got through were. And the main character is told he must complete the list to get a specific end result, but there is no one keeping track of whether or not he completes anything, so the whole concept is poorly executed. Guess actors gotta work, and that's about all this film accomplishes.

A tame comedy that has a few laughs set inside a sweet story. It's fairly simple; an estranged mother who has passed away wants to make up for past mistakes by having her son complete a scavenger hunt of sorts in order to find himself and mend their broken relationship even though she's now gone.

Nothing about the story is overly innovating. Just one of those films that are very easy to watch and commitment free, kind of like Susan Sarandon's character who is clearly a hippie of the sixties. It also takes place in the sierras of central California, which of course is a beautiful area.

Highlight were the phone conversations between Leif (Jake Johnson) and Audrey (D'Arcy Carden). Those two were hilarious.

"Ride the Eagle" is a heartwarming indie comedy that stars Jake Johnson as Leif, a man who receives an unexpected inheritance from his estranged mother. Directed by Trent O'Donnell and written by Johnson himself, this film offers an enjoyable and light-hearted experience.

One of the standout elements of "Ride the Eagle" is its quirky sense of humor. The comedic timing and delivery by Jake Johnson are spot-on, providing plenty of laughs throughout the movie. His character, Leif, is relatable and endearing, making it easy for audiences to root for him on his journey.

The storyline revolves around Leif receiving a cabin in Yosemite National Park along with a series of letters from his late mother, Honey (played by Susan Sarandon). These letters serve as instructions for various tasks that he must complete in order to truly inherit the property. As he embarks on this unique adventure, Leif learns more about himself and reconnects with the memories of his mother.

The chemistry between Jake Johnson and Susan Sarandon is another highlight of "Ride the Eagle." Despite having limited screen time together, their interactions bring depth to their characters' relationship. Their dynamic adds emotional weight to the story while still maintaining a lighthearted tone.

Visually, "Ride the Eagle" captures the beauty of Yosemite National Park with stunning cinematography. The natural landscapes serve as a backdrop for Leif's personal growth and reflection throughout his journey.

While some may argue that "Ride the Eagle" follows familiar tropes found in indie comedies, it is still an enjoyable film thanks to its strong performances and heartfelt moments. It balances humor with genuine emotion without becoming overly sentimental or predictable.

In conclusion, "Ride the Eagle" offers an entertaining ride filled with laughter and heartfelt moments. Jake Johnson shines in both comedic and dramatic scenes alongside Susan Sarandon. If you're looking for a feel-good indie comedy with a touch of heart, this movie is worth watching.

1) I've written about the recent "rent an Airbnb and use it as a set for your indie film" phenomenon but this was actually done right. A huge part is because of competent actors and likeable/intriguing characters.

2) Free of the usual unnecessary agenda (except for a global warming vs politicians bit) which is refreshing from an American comedy these days.

3) Not a great deal of twists here but it's a comfy film for a great hang. All the 5 characters (dog included, since it got a lot of screen time) were superb with JK Simmons not having a lot to do and the ex gf's phone quips being my favorite.

Amazing scenery, simple, promising start, but left me with so many questions. Had so much potential to take it somewhere.

I could have been Leif's mom - except I'm not dead. I've never seen a movie/series in which a hippie mom was portrayed with the intelligence many of us had - you had to be smart to navigate those ever-shifting times. Sarandon is perfect for the role. She imbues Honey with wisdom and humor. And, since I would watch Jake eat oatmeal, my take on his sweet and funny performance may not mean much. The highest praise I can give is that I, an old hermit who protects her "space", contacted my grown kids the second I got home and asked them to pull together a family reunion.

Five minutes into the movie and you already know the plot. Intentions were right, director wanted his audience to understand the importance of life but failed to portray it right. People are comparing this movie with "Into the wild" and I think that it's not fair to compare this meaningless movie with a masterpiece.

It handles some heavy topics while keeping a lighthearted tone, a sense of comedic amusement, and enough drama to make it more engaging than slow.

I think that this is a movie that will impact some more than others, and in a way it's written for them. It's not a one stop shop, and that may mean it's not as interesting to everyone.

To anyone that can relate to estranged maternal figures, and the myriad of emotions that comes with that, this is a must watch.

While the premise is ok it lacked any depth or cleverness in the plot detail and writing. Pretty unconvincing and with laboured attempts at humour.

I am a big fan of Jake Johnson's indie movie work. If you enjoy his other work in movies like Drinking Buddies, Digging for Fire, and Win It All, you will like this movie. As always, it's a character study. It's a comedic lighthearted movie that has the occasion to tug at your heartstrings.

I got a feeling that it's kind of things we know what's important in life but we always forget it. It reminds us via this funny way. A pleasant product.

I loved this movie from the beginning. It was funny and inspirational. A movie with a message for everyone to not only look within but don't forget to look around you. Make your life more than just a memory, enjoy and be grateful every moment that creates the memory.