This melodrama — which not only stars the beautiful Alex Pettyfer, but marks his directing debut — has an audience score on Rotten Tomatoes of 99 per cent. Clearly, it’s right up the alley of the British actor’s many fans.
By the way, it’s bonkers. Pettyfer, 30, seems determined to shake off his golden-boy image. Back Roads, based on Tawni O’Dell’s popular 1999 novel, is all about the impact of sexual and physical abuse on working-class families and casts him as Harley, a greasy-haired emotional wreck from western Pennsylvania who, due to a family tragedy, has to care for his three younger sisters, one of whom (Nicola Peltz) lambasts him for being a loser who can’t get laid.
She’s just mad, though, because he doesn’t want to screw her. In fact every female over 15 wants to bed Harley and/or lavish him with love. Once you know Adrian Lyne co-wrote the script, it all makes sense. Harley and a married mother of two (Jennifer Morrison, pugnacious) bond over their admiration for Pierre Bonnard, then get down to torrid shagging.
Even Harley’s serene social worker (June Carryl) struggles to keep her distance. Cinematographer Jarin Blaschke, working wonders with a flaming sofa, can’t save Pettyfer from Lyne’s writing. All roads lead to unintentional giggles.
On digital release from July 6
