When his son dies while hiking the famed Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in the Pyrenees, Tom flies to France to claim the remains. Looking for insights into his estranged child’s life, he decides to complete the 500-mile mountain trek to Spain. Tom soon joins up with other travelers and realizes they’re all searching for something.
It could have come out sentimental, but doesn't. The secret is the matter-of-factness.
– Colin Covert,
Minneapolis Star Tribune,
14 Oct 2011
rotten:
With "The Way," writer-director Emilio Estevez has made a respectable failure.
– Mick LaSalle,
San Francisco Chronicle,
20 Oct 2011
fresh:
Heartfelt if occasionally plodding.
– Tom Long,
Detroit News,
21 Oct 2011
fresh:
Estevez takes full advantage of the beautiful mountain scenery, dramatic skies and ancient architecture to give us moments of quiet wonder.
– Bruce Demara,
Toronto Star,
4 Nov 2011
rotten:
Okay, since the destination is preordained, what does the script do en route? Estevez's answer is two-fold: minor episodic adventures + incessantly repeated montages.