A father and son go on a road trip across the American hinterland in this movie by Alexander Payne ("Sideways").

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An old man named Woody (Bruce Dern) is picked up by the police while walking along the side of the road, seemingly in a bewildered state. His son David (Will Forte) is freshly divorced and not doing much, so his mother asks him to look after Woody. He’s in some trouble, because after receiving a letter that says he’s won a million dollars, Woody wants to pick the money up, even if it means walking to the lottery office. But David, realizing the letter is a marketing gag, offers to at least take him by car. And so the two go on a road trip where not much is said, and whose first stop is a family reunion at Woody’s brother’s house.

As usual, Oscar winner Alexander Payne (About Schmidt, Sideways) tells his story with lots of humor that can turn black at any moment and is often overlaid with great melancholy. The movie at first raises the question of whether all these “simple” Nebraskans are mere caricatures designed for Payne to look down upon, but things move on from there quickly, thanks to a great performance by old master Bruce Dern – in the role of his career – with wonderful support from “Saturday Nigh Live” alumnus Will Forte and Payne veteran June Squibb (About Schmidt).