Off Road

Nothing says manly more than a yellow Jeep covered in mud. At least that's what art school student Kent thinks. Fresh from a messy breakup, Kent goes home to regroup. When he sees his friend Greg's brand-spanking-new Jeep, Kent seizes on the perfect way to reassert his masculinity—take that baby off road. Kent and Greg pick up their friend Brad, a burly guy who says what he thinks, often with his fists, and the testosterone level of the three combined is enough to convince them that driving a new Jeep through a swamp is a good idea—what could go wrong? When the Jeep inevitably gets stuck in the middle of the marsh, the three friends are forced to work out their problems. They face Brad's cheating father, Kent's snobby high school crush and her new beau, a pack of rednecks shooting fireworks at one another—and that's just the start. Kent's pigheadedness is both endearing and hilarious. Despite the big issues Kent and crew are wrestling with on their adventure, Murphy packs in enough tough guy humor to steer clear of any mushy stuff. With its angular, character-driven art, Murphy's Off Road is a delight. (Dec.)