WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Rising to a challenge. When we’re young, especially as a teenager, the last thing we often wish to do is take on anything that involves working for it. We’d rather just slack off, chill out, hang with friends, play video games, or do any other number of honestly mundane things to pass the time. Sometimes, however, the need to take action comes about unexpectedly. Will Ryburn (Brennon Tolbert), the son of Senator Jeremy Ryburn (Corbin Bernsen), really just desires to play guitar and goof off with his best friend Evan (Derek Martin). But, when his father makes him head to Washington, D.C. for the Student Congress, Will is anything but thrilled. Making an initial attempt to ditch, Will ultimately ends up where he’s supposed to be.
Upon meeting fellow attendees Alley (Kendra Jain), Tanisha (Patrice Harris), and Javier (Diego F. Salinas), the group of misfits end up embroiled in the scheming of bumbling oil tycoon Dirk E. Diaper (Dan De Luca) and a haughty Senator, Sally Atkinson (Mary Agnes Shearon), who have designs on a local park becoming a money-making venture, destroying the park’s resident bald eagle population to do so. Knowing they have to do something to prevent this all from occurring, Will and his friends must also deal with other obstacles in the form of Will’s fellow schoolmate Kate (Elizabeth Jackson), a conniving Student Congress member, Barry Allen (Anthony Del Negro), and even the last person they would expect resistance from–Will’s own father.
Next, my Mind:
Writer/co-director/co-producer Jerry Casagrande and co-director/co-producer Dan De Luca take on current social and environmental issues but in a absolutely family-friendly, tongue-in-cheek, and ultimately engaging format in this newest independent film effort. While many projects with these themes can come dangerously, if not blatantly, close to being overtly preachy in their intended message, Casagrande and De Luca choose instead to paint the concepts of Big Oil, the U.S. government’s need for more thoughtful legislation and decision-making when it comes to our country’s resources and how to tap them more beneficially, plus even the Washington politicians themselves, as over-the-top caricatures while not losing sight of the serious and intended statement the movie makes. In fact, one might argue it is more effective to have this much silly fun in order to convey said purpose as opposed to brazen grandstanding.
Tolbert, Jain, Harris, and Salinas all form a wonderfully entertaining ensemble as the four teens who end up having the chance to fly above their respective oddball and/or nonconformist demeanors and embark on a meaningful venture that could have national impact all while being a perfect illustration of this country’s diversity in citizenry. Jackson, Del Negro, and Kent Jenkins all add very off-the-wall characters as foils to Will and Co.’s efforts, while providing plenty of laughs along the way. Bernsen is always solid as authority figures, and here is no exception as a “stuck-in-his-ways” veteran Senator who experiences his own little awakening from events. De Luca is a total stitch as Diaper, intentionally overplaying it to highly goofy and comedic extent. Likewise, Shearon’s Atkinson is a study in what many people probably think of in how we view so many overly zealous politicians and their “for-their-own-benefit” political maneuvering.
Additional supporting roles from Martin as Will’s best friend Evan, screen legend Shirley Jones as Will’s grandmother, Natalie Diorio as Will’s mother Sara, and Riley Casagrande as Will’s sister Jenny among a host of others all contribute necessary elements to the proceedings as well. In total, “On The Wing” is a fine example of how to successfully bring out crucial and significant subjects with a sincere and earnest resolve that everyone can embrace and in the meantime simply enjoy sitting back, wholeheartedly laughing, and purely entertained.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
