Divorce is a situation many of us have a hard time navigating, and even something that can make us recognize something about ourselves and how we see others. Marriage Story captured these feelings brilliantly when it released it on Netflix in 2019 to immense critical acclaim. And now, director Steve Pink is presenting his take on the subject matter in a unique way, via his latest film The Wheel.
Prior to this film, Steve Pink was known primarily for the comedy films he directed, the most notable of which being Accepted (2003), and the Hot Tub Time Machine duology (2010, 2015). Even in films that he only wrote for, or produced, Pink’s preferred genre has always been more comedic, with films such as High Fidelity(2000) or Knight and Day(2010). With The Wheel, however, Pink has taken to directing a more dramatic film this time around, one which takes a unique look at how divorce affects not just a young couple, but how it affects the people around them. And as far as a first attempt in a more dramatic field, Pink succeeds in telling a story that captures the complexities that relationships come with.
From the beginning, The Wheel immediately makes itself distinct from Pink’s previous works; many sweeping shots of the wilderness as a couple makes their way towards an Airbnb. Both clearly have different feelings on the trip they are taken; husband Walker (Taylor Gray) wishes to rekindle his relationship with wife Albee (Amber Midthunder). Although Walker is trying his best to fix the problems threatening their 8 year relationship, despite his growing frustrations, Albee from the start of the film is shown as bitter and wanting nothing more than to get away from Walker and get our of this trip, though there are still some lingering feelings of care towards the man.
When they do finally arrive at the home they are staying at, their issues begin to affect the host’s relationship, an older couple recently engaged, Ben(Nelson Lee) and Carly(Bethany Anne Lind). Initially the two seem to have quite a table relationship, after a double-date gone wrong, and a series of questions asked from Walker’s relationship self-help book, the four individuals begin to argue and point out the many problems that exist between them, not only driving Walker and Albee further apart, but even Ben and Carly begin to question if the two made the right choice in sharing their lives with one another.
Courtesy of Pickle Productions
Initially, there was some trouble getting into the meat of the story, as at times it can be hard to understand where these characters are coming from. It’s uncertain if this is a result of the films remarkably short runtime, just clocking in over an hour and twenty-three minutes, but it does give the impression that the first half of this film doesn’t have time to properly set up the events to come in the second half. Despite that problem, the further into the film, the more the audience gets to know exactly what makes these people tick, and why their respective relationships are more than meets the eye. Albee in particular was quite the surprise, as her initially cold and cruel behavior made it easy to see her as the problem, as she seems to have no issue being critical of each of the characters in the film. But thanks to the performance of Midthunder, as well as thought exploration of the complex relationship between Albee and Walker, it’s clear that her unsavory behavior stems from her attempting to shield herself from the pain, fears, and insecurities that plague her.
This is true of all of these characters, as each one by the mid-point of the movie finally begins to reconcile with the issues they face as individuals, and the audience finally gets to see who they truly are at there core. That said, perhaps the most interesting part of the film, is how it ends. Of course, without spoilers, much like life and the experience of a divorce, there’s a lot by the end that is left open-ended. While most movies would try to provide some form of conclusion, this feels more true to life, as many of the characters are left uncertain of where to go by the end of the film, which makes it far more resonant than most other movies that tackle this subject matter.
This is reinforced by the cinematography of the film. While there are a few wide shots, what stood out more were the closer shots of each of the characters. They were rough, shaky, and intimate, and given the uncomfortable nature these characters find themselves in, it leaves the audience feeling a similar level of uncomfortablity that the people of these characters feel in the moment.
It isn’t the most groundbreaking film, and the first half may have it’s faults, but it’s a film that certainly understands how complex relationships can be in a way that isn’t often seen in most movies, making it an undeniably refreshing take on the relationship drama, and one hard to walk away from without feeling any sort of emotion for.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5.
Graduated from Point Park University in 2021 with a Degree of English Creative Writing.
Author of the Chronicles of a Broken World Series
Avid Nerd and Enjoyer of All Things Fun and Thoughtful
