Before conveniently dying, a father writes a quirky will requiring his family to make a road trip to scatter his ashes — and reconnect with each other. It’s a sweet and well-meaning story, but generally every bit as contrived as it sounds. An ounce of such mawkishness will suffice, and Around the Bend offers at least a greasy pound. Director Jordan Robert’s debut oozes more sap than a freshly cut Christmas tree, and were it not for an incredible turn by Christopher Walken, it’d be best left forgotten.
