Film Review: “Get Away If you Can”: Are You Ready to Give Up Everything?

R | 1h 18min | Drama, Romance, Mystery | 22 August 2022 (USA)

Anyone who has ever been or is currently in a long-term committed romantic relationship can relate to “Get Away if You Can”.

After a while, partners can start to drift apart but also become complacent or bored. While one or both of them might feel tired from their daily routine, they are committed to each others and willing to do anything to restore the spark.

Dominique Braun as Domi in “Get Away if You Can.” (Brainstorm Media)

In the case of Domi and TJ, their spiraling funk is exacerbated by Alan (Ed Harris), his wealthy father and Graham (Riley Smith), his paper-pushing younger brother. TJ must cut all ties to her, insist they.

Riley Smith as Graham, TJ’s brother (L) with Ed Harris who plays his and TJ’s father, Alan, in “Get Away if You Can.” (Brainstorm Media)

They believe Domi to be nothing more than a tortured and failed artist. TJ is a meal-ticket. To ensure their success, they devise a plan they call “Operation Dismiss Domi”.

Dad’s Not a People Person

An ex-marine officer, Alan has made his fortune from boat-based shipping. He is a misogynist and sexist who sees women only as users, breeders and playthings.

In one scene, he describes TJ’s and Graham’s mother as a very ill-informed and dismal person. The unnamed woman is not able to say if Alan or she are divorced. He is a loathsome, petty person.

Ed Harris as TJ’s father, Alan, in “Get Away if You Can.” (Brainstorm Media)

The polar opposite to Alan is Marina (Martina Gusman), Domi’s sister, and owner of an Argentina horse farm. We get the impression that Martina was Domi’s spiritual and emotional safe haven for quite some time despite the sparse dialogue between the siblings. Although she doesn’t wish Domi to remain with TJ and his family, she supports their decision.

Presented in sequence, “GAIYC” opens with TJ (and Domi) on board a large sailing boat that is heading toward Easter Island off the coast of Chile. It seems that Alan and Graham might have a plan.

There is a chill in the air and Domi cannot get TJ to loosen up or relax. He is stoic and keeps his distance from TJ, bumping him on the deck and knocking him into the water.

It should be noted that this incident may be dream sequence but it still paints an emotional picture of the chasm between them.

One Ship, One Captain

Alan said to TJ that “there’s only one Captain on a Ship” and Domi was made aware by him of his plans. This is not the best approach for someone who’s trying to win you back.

Clearly frustrated and mentally drained, Domi is still able to convince TJ to drop anchor for the night near what he identifies as “The Island of Despair,” a place with bad juju (hence the name), which supposedly provided the inspiration for the 1719 Daniel Defoe novel “Robinson Crusoe.” This theory holds a lot of weight as there is an actual Robinson Crusoe Island located in the Pacific near Chile.

At this point we’re about halfway through the streamlined 78-minute film and, unless you’re clairvoyant, you will have no idea where it is ultimately headed.

Along with their roles as leads, Martin and Braun also directed and produced “GAIYC”. They are, not surprisingly, real-life romance partners. Although it is Martin’s second stint wearing multiple hats (he wrote and directed “The Donner Party” from 2009), it is Braun’s first, but you can’t detect an iota of hesitation or uncertainty.

The scenes featuring Harris, Gusman, and Smith (all of them in flashback) make up less than 25 percent of the total running time, leaving Braun and Martin to effectively carry the narrative on their own for the duration.

Chamber Piece in the Great Outdoors

The chronological final 30 minutes of the movie is a de facto chamber piece, albeit one taking place outdoors with the leads often not seen in the same frame. The filmmakers made a risky and dangerous move to make so many narrative bets in a production already minimalist. This could have produced something distant, cold, static and boring, but it doesn’t.

Addition to the “getting-into-a rut” scenario, how many people, married or not, find themselves literally overwhelmed by all the news and devices and job stress? We all wish to escape from everything in our modern, over-stimulated age, although it is possible in different ways.

Dominique Braun as Domi and Terence Martin as TJ in “Get Away if You Can.” Baun and Martin also co-directed the film. (Brainstorm Media)

Although their journey to reach there is difficult and contentious, Domi, TJ and others get to experience a life that we all dream about. But, they would probably never be able to execute it.

“GAIYC is not a fairy tale. It is possible and realizable to achieve everything that is described. You will be forced to evaluate how far and what you are willing to give up, if given the opportunity.

Presented in English with infrequently subtitled Spanish.

Promotional ad for “Get Away if You Can.” (Brainstorm Media)

‘Get Away If You Can’
Directors: Dominique Braun, Terrence Martin
Stars: Dominique Braun, Terrence Martin, Ed Harris, Martina Gusman, Riley Smith
Running Time: 1 hour, 18 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: Aug. 22, 2022
Rating: 4 out of 5