San Francisco Bay Guardian

'Go Further'
Not far enough

THE PREMISE OF Ron Mann's new documentary, Go Further, seems a bit contrived. The icon of Ken Kesey's bus of Merry Pranksters has certainly suffered from overuse; do we really need to see actor-cum-environmentalist Woody Harrelson lead his band of flunkies down the Pacific Coast in a hippified eight-wheeler? The Harrelson crew are on a college tour, making frequent on-campus stops to promote organic food, sustainability, yoga, veganism, and all sorts of other crunchy stuff. They're also determined to walk the walk: raw food, biofuel, and meditation all the way! While the enthusiasm is duly appreciated, it's a shame that such a freewheeling road trip translates to such a stilted movie. Certain scenes and personalities feel weirdly staged, and the film frustratingly rejects tonal consistency. While Harrelson's wanderings clearly generate some well-deserved excitement, Go Further never lets the audience get on the bus. (Max Goldberg)

'Go Further' Not far enough THE PREMISE OF Ron Mann's new documentary, Go Further, seems a bit contrived. The icon of Ken Kesey's bus of Merry Pranksters has certainly suffered from overuse; do we really need to see actor-cum-environmentalist Woody Harrelson lead his band of flunkies down the Pacific Coast in a hippified eight-wheeler? The Harrelson crew are on a college tour, making frequent on-campus stops to promote organic food, sustainability, yoga, veganism, and all sorts of other crunchy stuff. They're also determined to walk the walk: raw food, biofuel, and meditation all the way! While the enthusiasm is duly appreciated, it's a shame that such a freewheeling road trip translates to such a stilted movie. Certain scenes and personalities feel weirdly staged, and the film frustratingly rejects tonal consistency. While Harrelson's wanderings clearly generate some well-deserved excitement, Go Further never lets the audience get on the bus. (Max Goldberg)