The Motel Life - A Movie Review

Think about the life you want, a place you can go and hide.

The Motel Life escaped into theaters in 2012. Two brothers flee to the Reno Motel after a fatal hit-and-run accident. Either they turn themselves in or the situation will escalate.

The Motel Life presents a heartfelt story about sibling love that warmed my heart. However, the film’s slow pace steers away from its on-the-road storyline, squandering in wasted potential. In doing so, it diverts from delivering a more engaging and cohesive story centered on its characters.

Emile Hirsch and Stephen Dorff play two brothers named Frank and Jerry. They established a genuine sibling relationship, defining their bond and trickster behavior. Although the actors have a 12-year age gap, their chemistry is what landed them the roles.

Emile Hirsch deserves more praise as an actor, especially for his understated qualities. There’s a lot of depth to Frank who is burdened by loyalty and keeping his head down. Frank has always put others before himself, delaying him from discovering who he is. He is an amazing storyteller. His stories calm others down.

The Motel Life has several small characters. One character just got out of the mental hospital while another owns a gun shop. Credits include Doc Divecchio, Nancy Youngblut, Jenica Bergere, Dakota Fanning, Joshua Leonard, Garrett Backstrom, and Andrew Lee

The film also starred the late Kris Kristopherson (Earl Hurley) who said that The Motel Life was his favorite film he acted in. Dakota Fanning appears as Annie, though her role is very underdeveloped - matching the story.

Similar to how the brothers are trying to escape, the film doesn’t focus on its plot until the last thirty minutes. My prediction was that the boys would motel hop. Instead, Jerry is confined to the hospital while Frank goes around to friends to see if they have any helpful resources and makes bets in casinos.

Alan and Gabe Polsky do a commendable job capturing the story. It has a quiet tone, but there’s tension. The question is; why spend so much time providing audiences with flashbacks, instead of the two brother’s relationship while on the run? There’s a lot of emotional weight here, but it doesn’t always land because the film can’t seem to decide which story it wants to tell.

The film knows its settings more than the story. Location spots included Reno, Gardnerville, and Virginia City. Motels make intricate settings because they have a lot of history. Why is someone at a motel? Could be for a relaxing break or secretive get-away reasons.

The animation sequences are the best part of the film. They’re so fun to watch! Artists need to watch this movie. If you don’t like the film, these sequences make watching The Motel Life worth it. Whenever Frank shares a story, these beautifully illustrated sequences accompany it. These stories are brought to life with vibrant, almost dreamlike animation.

Mike Smith animated these sequences, creating them as a sketchbook design. I have always enjoyed drawing and I have bins full of sketchbooks. Sketches are the most important will of expression.

Smith made the drawings appear almost unfinished in a way and without color. That decision set the right tone for the story. It portrays how the brothers strive for freedom. We invest in Frank’s character, showing how he copes through storytelling with the hardships he faces. It’s also something different as Smith said.

The Motel Life has loose ends, but it’s worth a watch for its acting. It’s streaming on Tubi if you’d like to watch it.