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The Road to Wellville

  • 19941994
  • RR
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
12K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Matthew Broderick, John Cusack, Anthony Hopkins, Bridget Fonda, and Dana Carvey in The Road to Wellville (1994)
Trailer
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
57 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
A story about the ins and outs of one unusual health facility in the early twentieth century, run by the eccentric Dr. John Harvey Kellogg.A story about the ins and outs of one unusual health facility in the early twentieth century, run by the eccentric Dr. John Harvey Kellogg.A story about the ins and outs of one unusual health facility in the early twentieth century, run by the eccentric Dr. John Harvey Kellogg.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
12K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Alan Parker
  • Writers
    • T. Coraghessan Boyle(novel "Road to Wellville")
    • Alan Parker(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Anthony Hopkins
    • Bridget Fonda
    • Matthew Broderick
Top credits
  • Director
    • Alan Parker
  • Writers
    • T. Coraghessan Boyle(novel "Road to Wellville")
    • Alan Parker(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Anthony Hopkins
    • Bridget Fonda
    • Matthew Broderick
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 111User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos1

    The Road To Wellville
    Trailer 0:31
    The Road To Wellville

    Photos57

    Matthew Broderick, Anthony Hopkins, and Bridget Fonda in The Road to Wellville (1994)
    Matthew Broderick and Norbert Weisser in The Road to Wellville (1994)
    Anthony Hopkins in The Road to Wellville (1994)
    Matthew Broderick, Anthony Hopkins, and Bridget Fonda in The Road to Wellville (1994)
    Matthew Broderick, John Cusack, Anthony Hopkins, Bridget Fonda, and Dana Carvey in The Road to Wellville (1994)
    Matthew Broderick, John Cusack, Anthony Hopkins, Bridget Fonda, and Dana Carvey in The Road to Wellville (1994)
    Matthew Broderick, John Cusack, Anthony Hopkins, Bridget Fonda, and Dana Carvey in The Road to Wellville (1994)
    Matthew Broderick, Bridget Fonda, and Dana Carvey in The Road to Wellville (1994)
    Gloria Cuomo in The Road to Wellville (1994)
    Gloria Cuomo in The Road to Wellville (1994)
    Gloria Cuomo in The Road to Wellville (1994)
    Anthony Hopkins in The Road to Wellville (1994)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anthony Hopkins
    Anthony Hopkins
    • Dr. John Harvey Kelloggas Dr. John Harvey Kellogg
    Bridget Fonda
    Bridget Fonda
    • Eleanor Lightbodyas Eleanor Lightbody
    Matthew Broderick
    Matthew Broderick
    • William Lightbodyas William Lightbody
    John Cusack
    John Cusack
    • Charles Ossiningas Charles Ossining
    Dana Carvey
    Dana Carvey
    • George Kelloggas George Kellogg
    Michael Lerner
    Michael Lerner
    • Goodloe Benderas Goodloe Bender
    Colm Meaney
    Colm Meaney
    • Dr. Lionel Badgeras Dr. Lionel Badger
    John Neville
    John Neville
    • Endymion Hart-Jonesas Endymion Hart-Jones
    Lara Flynn Boyle
    Lara Flynn Boyle
    • Ida Muntzas Ida Muntz
    Traci Lind
    Traci Lind
    • Nurse Irene Gravesas Nurse Irene Graves
    Camryn Manheim
    Camryn Manheim
    • Virginia Cranehillas Virginia Cranehill
    Roy Brocksmith
    Roy Brocksmith
    • Poultney Dabas Poultney Dab
    Norbert Weisser
    Norbert Weisser
    • Dr. Spitzvogelas Dr. Spitzvogel
    Monica Parker
    Monica Parker
    • Mrs. Tindermarshas Mrs. Tindermarsh
    Jacob Reynolds
    Jacob Reynolds
    • Young George Kelloggas Young George Kellogg
    Michael Goodwin
    Michael Goodwin
    • Dr. Frank Linnimanas Dr. Frank Linniman
    Marshall Efron
    Marshall Efron
    • Bartholomew Bookbinderas Bartholomew Bookbinder
    Aleksandr Slanksnis
    • Mr. Unpronounceableas Mr. Unpronounceable
    • Director
      • Alan Parker
    • Writers
      • T. Coraghessan Boyle(novel "Road to Wellville")
      • Alan Parker(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Much of the movie was filmed at the Mohonk Mountain House near New Paltz, New York, a Quaker-family-owned hotel, built in stages from 1879 to 1910. It's situated on the Shawangunk Ridge, which is south of the Catskill Mountains.
    • Goofs
      Mountains in the background reveal the New York/North Carolina filming locations rather than the flatness of lower Michigan's Battle Creek, where the movie is set.
    • Quotes

      Dr. John Harvey Kellogg: My own stools, Sir, are gigantic and have no more odor than a hot biscuit.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Radioland Murders/I Like It Like That/Bullets Over Broadway/Imaginary Crimes/Clerks (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Laughing Song
      Composed by Rachel Portman

    User reviews111

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Flawed, but by no means as bad as some would have you believe
    It probably happens to everybody: one comes across a review on IMDb, looking for some info on a movie that one considers a personal favorite, and what does one find? A rating that points more toward the lower end of that rating spectrum and numerous devastating reviews, that point both thumbs (and probably the big toes as well) downwards. Of course everybody is entitled to their own opinion and taste, but in the case of "The Road to Wellville" I cannot help but to break a lance for a film that deserves a little better than what it has gotten thus far.

    The actors shine throughout. Matthew Broderick has never played a more likable character since his "Ferris Bueller's Day Out", Tracy Lind and Bridget Fonda sparkle with feminine beauty and although one can tell that Anthony Hopkins was not altogether comfortable with his role, comedy being clearly not his first line of work, he makes the best of what he's given to work with. Same goes for all the supporting cast, who are throughout quirky and likable (including Colm Meany, who has never played a slimier character), and often look, as if they had stepped out of a "Asterix"-comic-book.

    Before the disastrous "The Master of Disguise" technically ended his career (and, yes, later associating himself later with Adam Sandler wasn't a good idea either; not for Carvey or anybody else on this planet), you basically couldn't go wrong with Dana Carvey. A virtual chameleon of his trade, Carvey's various roles and guises only had one thing in common: they were always funny as hell and usually stole the scene. Such is the case in this movie. Carvey's George Kellogg is an epitome of grime, sloth and human rot (though not without the vulnerable child at the core), which keeps the viewers emotions of utter revulsion and amusement at a 50/50 level.

    Special praise must go to Jacob Reynolds, playing the young George Kellogg. I say it as I see it: he's uglier than a blind horse. But not in a repulsive way, but rather so ugly, that one could stare at his strange features and over-shaped head for hours without getting tired or repulsed. Though his retrospective scenes are rather short, he steals every one of them.

    So, why the low rating and plenty negative reviews, I wondered. Well, for one I can understand that some people might not feel comfortable with the scatological humor (of which there is galore). Without having done any research on it, I could imagine that this kind of film would have been more popular in Europe than it might have been in the United States. Often I found myself reminded of French comedies a la Claude Zidi and, since we're speaking of potty-humour, of course Monty Phyton. The main criticism I would place on the director himself. No doubt, Parker is a master of his trade but you can always tell that he was uncomfortable to let his comedy (a field which Parker isn't exactly at home, perhaps with the exception of "Bugsy Malone") deteriorate into slapstick or farce – which the movie is essentially, and there is nothing wrong with that. Parker seems to have aimed more in the direction of biting satire, throwing in moments of seriousness (as in the story of Fonda's dead baby or the troubled history of Kellogg with his adopted son), which seem unnecessary, out of place, almost forced.

    And now, more than 20 years down the "Road to Wellville", the movie has aged exceptionally well and is just as enjoyable as it was when I first saw it. The story and message is still as contemporary as it was, perhaps even more so. Think self-appointed health-gurus, militant vegans and fitness crusaders, who'll argue that you'll die healthier if only you forsake all earthly pleasures. In fact, not too long ago, I found myself involved in a random conversation with a vegan. I listened silently, as he told me about his excellent health – and of course that I, as a "meat-eater", was clearly on the doorstep to death. While he prattled on, I measured his skeleton-like appearance, the hollow eyes and a skin-tone that had already a slight hue of greenish (no doubt due to a lack of Vitamin B12). By the time he had seemingly finished his sermon, I nodded in agreement – I mean, what else can you do? – then moved on. And while I contemplated which steak-house I was going to visit now, I found myself subconsciously whistling the movie's title-melody. And don't try to tell me, if you're a friend of the culinary world and well-being, that you don't have a distinct desire for a hearty piece of meat after watching "The Road to Wellville".

    Technically a 7/10, though it ranks among one of my personal Top-50 comedies.
    helpful•22
    2
    • t_atzmueller
    • Sep 26, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 28, 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Дорога на Веллвіл
    • Filming locations
      • Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Beacon Communications
      • Beacon Pictures
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $25,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,562,513
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,580,108
      • Oct 30, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,562,513
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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