ReelBob: ‘America Adrift’ ★★½

By Bob Bloom

In the 1930s, exploitation films highlighting the evils of marijuana were promoted in small towns and rural communities throughout the nation. They were shown in churches or rented theaters.

The movies had such titles as “Reefer Madness,” “Assassin of Youth” or “Marihuana,” and detailed how smoking marijuana could lead to the use of other, more potent drugs, as well as such other deviant behavior as premarital sex — and unwanted pregnancies — and, sometimes, death.

The low-budget movie, “America Adrift,” is a bit more sophisticated and has better production values than those earlier movies. But it strikes a similar tone.

“America Adrift” details the impact of a young man’s drug addiction on his family. The movie, produced, written and directed by Christopher James Lopez, is more serious and sincere than those 1930s’ movies that used over-the-top scare tactics and titillation to entice audiences into the theater.

Cecilia and William Fernandez moved their family to Long Island to give their children what they thought would be a healthier and safer environment.

But their youngest son, Cameron, becomes addicted to pills, heroin or whatever drugs he can get his hands on.

Lopez forgoes details about how or why Cameron succumbed to drugs, which may be of interest to his audience. However, it is not important to Lopez. He focuses more on the impact of Cameron’s drug use on his family and how, with the best of intentions, his protective mother, and somewhat his family, become enablers.

Cecilia especially is shown constantly making excuses for Cameron, helping him out of dangerous situations and trying to love him back to normalcy.

Lopez chronicles how Cameron manipulates his family, continually assuring Cecilia that he is no longer using drugs — while filching prescription pills from her — stealing money or selling a family car to get what he needs to get high.

Through it all, Cecilia refuses to face reality. Her stubbornness creates a chasm between her and her husband, William, and frustrates and alienates other family members. Her job and career —a teacher on track for tenure — also are jeopardized because of her obsession with putting Cameron ahead of everything — and everyone — else.

Lopez’s movie is not told in a linear fashion. He jumps back and forth to various episodes in which Cameron’s actions and misdeeds impact his family.

In some moments, “America Adrift” is too strident and overwrought. Smartly, it never reaches a point where it sounds preachy.

It does, however, turn too melodramatic in the final reel as a tragedy finally pushes Cecilia over the breaking point, causing her to compound one misfortune with another catastrophe.

As Cecilia, Luna Lauren Velez breaks your heart and exasperates you simultaneously. You wish she would stop catering to Cameron and admit to herself that drugs have taken him from her. Her blind faith in mother love overcoming the siren song of drugs is admirable, but hopeless.

“America Adrift” is not in the same class as “Beautiful Boy,” or other films that cover this topic.

While it is powerful and intelligent, it is too superficial and fails to go as deep into the opioid crisis as it could — and should.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My reviews appear at ReelBob (reelbob.com) and Rottentomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com). I also review Blu-rays and DVDs. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com or on Twitter @ReelBobBloom. Links to my reviews can be found on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

AMERICA ADRIFT
2½ stars out of 4
Not rated, language, drug use