Movie Review: Runs in the Family
One-liner: While modest and familiar even, this is a charming, entertaining, layered, well-acted and surprisingly heartfelt road movie.
Runs in the Family is a South African road movie that plays into the dysfunctional family dynamics of Little Miss Sunshine. A heartfelt and entertaining adventure comedy, this comparison is accented by the use of an old VW combi much like in New Material. Instead of a cross-country road trip to get to a pageant, the family are attempting something even more daring… repatriating with an estranged mother as part of a rehab clinic rescue. While the story hinges on this mission for family restoration, it’s actually got more to do with the father-son bond at its core.
There’s an added layer of human interest, which operates on many levels thanks to the road trip’s father-son team and real-life father-son team behind the aptly titled Runs in the Family. Written during the pandemic years when the importance of family was underscored by closing the circle over periods of lockdown, this adventure comedy also takes to the great outdoors with much the same vigour. Thankfully, its origins are the only real recall to a time most would rather forget, putting the amusing and touching story (rather than the context) front and centre.
The father-son filmmaking team consist of Ian and Gabe Gabriel, taking on a biographical slant based on Gabe’s own experiences as a transgender son. Ian Gabriel is best known for directing the drama Forgiveness, gangland drama Four Corners and mostly recently the crime drama series, Ludik. Known for pensive crime drama thrillers, Runs in the Family is a wonderful point of departure, opting for something breezier, light-hearted and optimistic. Returning to the arena of suspense with Death of a Whistleblower, this verve must surely be the influence of Gabe Gabriel who’s credited as standalone screenwriter.
As writer and co-lead, you can see how this vehicle for Gabe Gabriel works as a showcase on a number of levels. The writer-director behind the TV movie No Hiding Here, Gabriel has added an honest, heartfelt and knowing performance to rekindle his acting career in Runs in the Family. A well-balanced turn as River, the character’s bittersweet disposition ties in perfectly with the tone of this offbeat comedy as Ace Bhati’s experience, humanity and warmth reinforces the lively father-son dynamic as Varun. Rounding off the estranged family is Diaan Lawrenson as Monica whose integration makes a wonderful counterpoint to the carefully calibrated duo. Gorgeously duplicitous, Monica’s rough edges are smoothed over as she softens, providing an outdated perspective to unpack.
“Son, I believe this was made on an heir… loom. Get it?”
Runs in the Family is mostly an intimate family affair but benefits from its recognisable cast in Rob van Vuuren, Loren Loubser and the late Paul Snodgrass. While the film’s bookends do have touches of the streetwise crime drama we’ve become accustomed to from Ian Gabriel, it’s completely upended by the rambling road trip and strong tribute to drag as an art form and lifestyle. While the cast is enhanced by an array of local drag queens, culminating in a wildly entertaining and touching tribute, it’s Cleo Wesley as Ollie who brings it home as River’s best friend and partner. Then, Earl Gregory echoes Gabe’s previous film No Hiding Here as Her Vagesty The Queen.
A modest production in terms of budget, it overflows with humour and heart, giving it a surprisingly deep connection. While niche in terms of the drag dimension and transgender coming-of-age story at its core, it’s made accessible through its rich sense of compassion and humanity. Grappling with themes around grace, family, forgiveness and new beginnings, there’s an uncommon empathy and non-judgmental air to the script. While there are oafs and reprobates at various interchanges, Runs in the Family has a generosity of spirit. Watching Varun’s unconditional love and support for his transgender son is a thing of rare beauty, which will touch many who have ever felt disparaged or misunderstood by their parents.
Beyond its charming ensemble, solid performances, drag affinity and quirky road trip story, Runs in the Family has some choice cinematography and powerful dramatic moments. From nostalgic shots of the road trip getting underway to the drag competition, the Gabriels invest much love into this little big movie. A passion project, it exceeds expectations and in spite of its lighter undertones as a comedy, manages to land some truly heartfelt dramatic moments. The breezy dialogue flows freely, offering an effervescent mood to preface timely discussion around identity without becoming preachy.
What’s truly special about Runs in the Family, which also formed the powerful emotional core of Material, is the amazing chemistry between Bhati and Gabriel as father and son. Both offering hearfelt and deeply human performances, this goes a long way to disarm audiences who may come into the film with a degree of prejudice. Offering a window into the glitzy world of drag, it becomes a doorway into queer culture as Gabe’s open-hearted approach and real-life experience augments his unassuming yet spirited performance.
Runs in the Family is spectacular within its means and doesn’t make any pretences about its well-worn path being entirely original. What does energise this entertaining scrapbook of a road movie is its heart and humanity, which fuels the journey and smooths over bumps in the road. While there are moments and turning points that could have used more finesse, this adventure comedy drama outperforms its budgetary limitations with just as much flair as its drag entourage. A charming, disarming and heartwarming movie with a bittersweet undercurrent, this modest feel-good tale is full of surprises.
The bottom line: Spirited
