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At this time of year, college and high school graduation ceremonies send young adults out into the world to figure out what they’re going to do with the rest of their lives. And in the road trip adventure Gasoline Rainbow, a group of teenage outsiders hits the road to have a little bit of fun before reality sets in.
Gasoline Rainbow joins five teenagers from a small Oregon town who set out on one last big adventure together. Now that they’ve graduated from high school, they know that they’ll have to grow up and figure out their future—but before they do, they decide to travel the 500 miles to see the ocean for the first time. With no real plan in mind, they set out in a run-down van heading west—and, along the way, they face unexpected challenges while making new friends and partying their way across the state.
After spending their lives in a small town where they never felt like they fit in, these five lovably quirky kids set out to find a place where they don’t feel like outsiders. Their journey generally feels random and jumbled—just a bunch of music from different decades, plenty of singing, and snippets of mostly trivial conversations. But as they travel, they begin to meet more outsiders like themselves—and when their van ends up broken down on the side of the road, their new mission to make it to the coast for a rumored Party at the End of the World takes an unexpected turn.
For the most part, this indie road trip adventure feels real and organic, with the five teens meeting new friends and getting invited to parties wherever they go. We don’t really get to know the kids individually—just through the occasional brief (and often drunken/stoned) conversation about the challenges they face with their families or their fears about facing an uncertain future. But as they continue on their adventure and meet more friends, we learn more about their concerns and insecurities, we see their strong bond, and we follow along as they find their people while continuing their journey to enjoy one last party before life gets real.
In following these five friends on an unexpected adventure to find a place where they belong, Gasoline Rainbow offers a glimpse into the lives of today’s young adults. It’s messy and uncertain—and it never really goes where it’s expected to—but their relationships help guide them through the mess.
You can join these teens on their journey when Gasoline Rainbow expands to select theaters nationwide on May 17, 2024. Or stream in on MUBI on May 31st.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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