There is a feeling that overcomes some people that induces them to pick up from where they are and just leave. They travel with little concern for their destination just for the sake of travel. Wanderlust is usually associated with the young and for a good reason. It is difficult and frequently irresponsible for a man with a job and family to indulge in this feeling. Many pieces of literature and movies have used this as a central theme. After all it allows for a sense of adventure for the person doing the travel. This differs from its cousin genre of the road trip flick. With that type of movie there is usually a destination in mind and the adventure arises from the many unexpected detours encounter along the way. The road trip movie also usually includes a group either a bunch of friends or a family. With the wanderlust flick we usually have a lone traveler making his way through new places in the world. The latest independent film to take on this subject is ‘The Art of Travel’ by Thomas Whelan. It looks at a young man dissatisfied with how his life is going. He decides to just pick up and leave. Basically he goes anywhere his toes are pointing as his travels around the globe. In many ways an Indy flick like this is the epitome of wanderlust for the film maker. Instead of bowing to the popular trends that are dictated by the Hollywood studios or mandated by the rest of the Indy community. Instead of going the studio route and making another road trip flick or doing what so many young independent directors do and make a cheap and fast horror flick Whelan decided to let his camera travel searching to create a film that is different from the pack. The rewards for this professional bravery are clear; Whelan has a film that he can be proud of and most importantly the audiences will completely enjoy. It is a rare treat to see a film like this where a simple premise is so elegantly presented. This is a gentle moving film that is heartwarming and endearing.

The script comes from Brian LaBelle and Thomas Whelan. They have been a team for a number of years and worked on most of the films Whalen has directed in the past. They did go through the required Indy horror flick with ‘RE(e)volution’ in 2004. Thankfully they are grown out of that phase and started to explore other genres. As with any film of this type there is a need for a good sized dose of ‘suspension of belief’. As an adult with a job and family I can’t help but to state that just taking off to explore the wonders of travel like this is crazy. The protagonist, Conner Layne (Christopher Masterson) was about to start college and begin his life when he goes off and does something as foolish as throwing his life away on aimless travel. Then there is a part of the mind that looks at a life of the same job and routine and secretly wished we could be Conner. The appeal of this story is the sheer irresponsibility of it. As children many of us have all fantasized about wandering the world going to strange and exotic places. Then reality sets in that bind us to a more localized life. The character here took one of the biggest risks ever to just chuck the life laid out ahead of his and go off in an uncharted direction. One thing that could have been clearer in the script is the reasons for Conner’s case of wanderlust. Sure there was betrayal by his high school sweetheart but a lot of guys find their girlfriend cheating on them and find other ways to cope than directionless travel. There is a need for a deeper looking into motivation than just explaining it away as a whim.

In directing this film Whelan gave his cast and crew a little taste of travel for their own. The film was done on location and included places like Bolivia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Sacramento, California. Okay, the last one was needed as a State-side starting place. Whelan does not take this story in the expected direction. You might think that there would be danger at every turn but in some stretches of the film the characters are trekking through routine playing practical jokes on each other to break up the tedium. Perhaps this is a more realistic view of the situation but it does alter the pacing of the movie. Whelan does have a talent to make even those tedious times interesting as we get to see a little more of Conner’s personality. The real star of this film is the cinematography by Lawson Deming. He highlights the natural beauty of the locations with a skill that is fantastic. The natural use of light and shadow only reinforce the draw of going to places like this.

Conner Layne has just graduated from high school. His entire life is ahead of him and from the vantage point of him at the start of the film it looks bright. He is about to marry is high school girlfriend, Kate (Alexandra Breckenridge) and has a full academic scholarship to college. He has a loving and supportive family that includes his Bolivian born mother (Maria Conchita Alonso) and a high spirited sister (Bijou Phillips). As the film begins Conner is putting on his tux for his wedding. He thinks back to some of the happy times he shared with his beautiful bride to be. There were going to go to Lake Tahoe for their honeymoon but change their plans to go to Cancun instead. The in middle of the ceremony Conner stops the priest and asks to speak. He states his love for Kate and tells everyone in attendance to look under their seats for a gift. They all find an envelop and Conner gives on to his best man Travis (Tommy Savas). Inside is a picture of Kate in bed with Travis; the wedding is off. Making matters worse was Kate demanded they wait until they were married to have sex. Conner decides to go off to his honeymoon alone just to get away from everything. At the airport he trades in his ticket for the first plane out of town, Nicaragua. In short order he winds up with no money and no place to stay. Eventually he winds up in Panama where he meets a couple, Christopher Loren (Johnny Messner) and his wife Darlene (Brooke Burns). They invite him to come with them on a trek through the jungle which he accepts. Before long Conner is virtually addicted to aimless travel and continues his journey around the world.

The film is fun and very easy to get into. A large part of this is the familiar face of Masterson who is known to millions of television fans as the oldest brother in ‘Malcolm in the Middle’. He has the look and disposition of an regular albeit intelligent young man being tossed about by circumstance. He carries his role so well that we can accept even the most implausible situations. This is not a deep look at life it is a travelogue that is enjoyable to view. The film makes it to DVD through First Look studios. They are a great source for the quirky Indy films that you may never have known were out there.