Mary writes music reviews for ALTunes Magazine in New York City, but lately she has been too critical of bands, and her boss insists that she take a vacation. It's just as well, because her family needs her to come home to Wisconsin and takes some of her mother's stuff to Boston, where she is moving to be with other relatives.
Mary's boyfriend is Jake, a country music performer (in New York? Seriously?) with the band Vicksburg who is getting frustrated with her inability to commit to him. She has been divorced for three years, and her ex is remarrying. And he invited her to the wedding!
Mary's family is even more annoying than she is. And they criticize her for just sitting around while she visits when she could be helping out. For example: walk the dog! But Mary hates dogs.
Aunt Mary seems to have a good relationship with Nephew Gary. She's sorry she won't be able to go to his birthday party (Or will she? A lot of unexpected events take place in this film).
The time has come for Mary to go home. She gets stuck driving a garish pink car, but things are about to get worse. Among the things she has to carry with her: Binky, the Jack Russell terrier she hated. The dog gets several new names, including Pot Roast and one I will only say was a favorite expression of Red on "That 70s Show". And Mary considers just leaving him somewhere a couple of times, though by the end of the trip losing the dog seems more like a crisis than an opportunity.
On the way home, Mary and the dog have adventures, if you consider corn fields to be exciting. Mary tries to convince herself and the dog that they are. In Chicago, she meets Ethan, a fan of her work who also has a band which happens to be performing in one of the cities she will pass through. He hopes she will come see them (but should he?)
Oh, yes, and if she times it right, she might make it to the city where her ex is getting married. So will she go through with it?
I've always found Janeane Garofalo annoying, but somehow she manages to appeal to me here. She's not really pretty, but that's not necessarily important. Actually, some characters think she's beautiful. She's quite funny when the scene calls for it, and she is quite effective at crying when her character finally gives in and feels vulnerable.
I don't like dogs any better than Mary, and I didn't grow to care for the dog as you imagine Mary probably did. But Mary and Binky have an interesting relationship.
I also liked Nicolas Wright as Ethan. Ethan's "music" is another matter entirely. While there was some of what I consider music in this movie, none of it was played by bands Mary reviewed or simply enjoyed.
I've enjoyed movies more, but this one was okay.
