everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Better Late Then Never

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The film is about a 40 something aged man who is reminiscing about his teenage years growing up in a small US town where his dad ran an auto garage. The lead is played by Gabrielle Marantz who plays a character named Matt Rupert. Matt's father "Doc" Ruppert played superbly by Xander Berkeley is a former war veteran who is trying to eke out an honorable living by running his own tow and automotive service station but he has some competition which is currently getting the better end of the business throughout town since his competitor has the towing licenses for the district locked up.Matt has a brother who has no interest in the families auto repair shop so the support to keep the business running falls on Matt's shoulders. What Matt dreams about is getting away from his small town life and not spending the rest of his life repairing cars in his dads' garage. After witnessing his parents argue each night about unpaid bills, no hot water, and a fledging auto repair business that may be on its last legs, Matt has some big worries that most kids don't.Matt's best friend Schulz, played by Corby Griesenbeck, is having trouble of his own at home and so the two young men have conspired to blow this pop stand and head out on to the highway singing "life is a highway". But wouldn't you know it? Life gets in the way in the form of parents, cars, girlfriends, bikers, money (or lack of it) and friendship, not necessarily in any order. Matt's story of reminiscing of his life in the 1970's is a story that we can all relate to and I must give the writer/director/actor Carl Thibault credit for putting together a decent storyline and music score. Where the film fails though is to give us a story on the big screen that resonates with its audience and captivates us for 90 minutes or so as well as some other great films such as Stand By Me or the "must see" A Bronx Tale.I am not suggesting you avoid the film as it has some good qualities to look for in a film, such as Xander Berkeley's performance as a hard working war vet with strong principles, just don't expect it to transcend you for the next 90 minutes in to another world and with a story that will stay with you. Once the popcorn is gone, you probably will want more food rather than feel compelled to stay in your seat as you would with the aforementioned films.

"The Garage" shows life as it as. The cast talked to each other rather than at each other. The viewer felt that the cast was just as interested in what the other characters in this film had to say as the audience was. This movie wasn't like many of todays' movies are, where the cast just recites lines. The writing resembled Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller, it depicted real people in real situations.It showed life as it is, not as many want life to be. Carl Thibault, as the writer and director has raised the bar for future low budget and independent movies. The directing couldn't have been better. There wasn't an unbelievable scene in this movie.The movie flowed just as real life flows,with good and bad times. I personally thought Mr. Thibault was an older gentleman, with more years of personal life experience to draw upon, as he was able to depict in his writing and directing, more realism then most big name writers and directors with "Major credits" show in their movies. The cinematography was also very good, watching the movie one didn't feel that they were in a movie theater, but in the scene with the characters; which is where the cinematography in a movie should take its' audience, but often doesn't. "The Garage" is worthy of a major release, and Mr. Carl Thibault has proved to be deserving of attention by the film industry powers that be, as both a writer and director. I'd give this movie a higher rating but one should always feel that there is room for improvement.

Just caught this movie at the San Fernando Valley Film Festival and was really taken aback by its quiet power. Very much in the "Stand By Me"/"Last Picture Show"/"Summer of '42" mode, it will hopefully find a wider audience outside the fest circuit. Very well-acted by a mix of newcomers and veteran talent, "The Garage" has a great, evocative look, and subtly brings back its late 1970s, pre-MTV time period. It's one of those universal stories about small town life that anyone who's ever left home--or thought about it, will definitely be moved by. The music and cinematography were impressive, too. Check it out if it lands at a festival or theatre near you.

I mean just look at the tag line, haven't we all seen a hundred inspirational hallmark channel/lifetime channel original movies with that exact tag line? A movie about "learning life's lessons, blah blah blah." Basically, a technically competent but utterly generic paint by numbers film. There's really nothing wrong with it, it just sits there. Never really soars, never really does anything. Actually there was one really stupid thing: this girl walks up to the main character, completely at random and starts dating him. I thought there was going to be a punchline or something...no, some random hot girl just started dating the main character for seemingly no reason. It just felt so random, I was a bit confused after-wards. And then she falls in love with him, for some reason, and they break up because? I don't think anyone in my theater bought their relationship for one second. I think she was literally in maybe four or five scenes. Other than the totally superfluous love interest I guess it was OK.