'On a family vacation, no one can hear you scream.' Never let it be said that the makers of RV: Runaway Vacation didn't warn you. Robin Williams is Bob Munro, a highly paid executive, currently in the process of selling his soul to keep his family in the manner to which they are accustomed. Due to complications necessary to the plot, Bob feels the only way he can keep his job is to take his family across America in an RV [recreational vehicle, i.e. a camper van - Ed.], instead of to Hawaii as they had planned. His dysfunctional family is thrown together and, of course, pulls together as a result of the trials and tribulations of RV life.

From Geoff Rodkey, the writer of Daddy Day Care (2003), and Barry Sonnenfeld, the director of both Men in Black movies, comes a film with no pretensions that advertises itself as a gross-out family adventure. Despite investigating the 'comedy' potential of raw sewage, there is a real warmth to this movie, which boasts an excellent sympathetic cast. Cheryl Hines is genuinely likeable as Mrs Munro, while the rest of the Munro family are played by relative unknowns who underplay their parts. This provides a counterpoint to the hyperbolic Robin Williams, who bears the brunt of the slapstick and cruder elements of the film. It seems that, no matter how basic the film, Williams will always manage to imbue his characters with an element of humanity. You imagine it is the same dogged determination and self-deprecating humour that enables his character to jump through corporate hoops on-screen that enables him to make such humbling career choices off-screen.

The Gornicke family (Headed by Jeff Daniels and Kristin Chenoweth) are the banjo-playing, ho-down singing 'nightmare' family who dog every leg of the Monros' journey. Initially represented as unbearably saccharine and backward, they are later revealed as equals to the Monros, teaching us about looking beyond first impressions. The villain of the piece, Monro's Boss, an obsessive compulsive who cannot stand to be touched, teaches us the importance of human contact in staying human. The trajectory of the film in general shows us that trust, opening up, and not selling out are more important than anything, including money, a nice house, a nice car, etc.

All in all, for a movie rife with life-lessons and a fairy-tale ending (almost), RV is not a terrible film. Children of a certain age and a certain level of cynicism could well enjoy it, and perhaps some adults would enjoy a few guilty chuckles while (of course) chaperoning the kids.

Niamh Creely

Rated PG (see IFCO website for details)
RV is released on 9th June 2006
RV – Official website