Mark and Jay Duplass have a reputation for creating organic, character-driven dramedies that chart the often complex nature of everyday relationships, and Manson Family Vacation which they produced is no exception. Written and Directed by J Davis, a real life "Charlie" Manson devotee, it examines brotherly bonding and lingering family damage through the darkly comic lens of a road trip deeper and deeper into Charles Manson fandom (creeping back into 2015 pop culture thanks to TV's Aquarius and coverage on the You Must Remember This podcast).
The central dynamic is a familiar one - Nick (Jay Duplass) is the "stable" brother; a successful, uptight lawyer with a wife and kid, while Conrad (Linas Phillips) is the free spirited, casually employed screw up. It's a familiar dynamic and an easy trope for mining comedy and character growth, but Davis aims a bit higher than that. Nick and Conrad arrive with enough authentic baggage - Conrad being the adopted older to Nick's better-loved biological son; Nick struggling to appreciate the degree to which his life has been blessed with privilege - and the tense bond between them feels messy and salient. Against this backdrop, the brothers embark on a road trip of sorts, arguing and bonding over local Charles Manson murder landmarks.
The film finds its peculiar point of view in the tension between the genuine darkness inherent in Conrad's Manson obsession, and the levity and good humor with which he approaches it. Nick's understandable, but one-note, concern and resistance are thankfully soon supplanted by a more interesting dynamic when he becomes a begrudging ally and surprises himself by having some fun. Watching the brothers respond to the genuine pain in their family history with a fluctuation of bitter resentment and goofish bonding keeps the relationship engaging, while Conrad's enigmatic end game keeps the narrative moving.
Davis balances the film's dramedy qualities with ease, steering things from a genuinely funny first act to a probing, sincere conclusion. His ace in the bag is Linas Phillips, whose lively, compassionate performance is honest, funny and touching. Though the uncertain extent of his Manson Family fixation is troubling, there is real pain and longing to Conrad and the film remains unapologetically committed to his outsider perspective. Conrad's spontaneous energy also help breathe life into the tricky exercise of making LA's mass murder landmarks fun. The film struggles more in finding an arc for Nick. The script feels somewhat contrived in its efforts to paint him as an unrepentant monster in need of enlightenment, resulting in a conclusion that doesn't ring quite as true as it should.
All in all, though, Manson Family Vacation is a freshly entertaining outing that sympathetically commits to an uneasy subculture. The rewards of the narrative may be proportionate to one's ability to appreciate the importance of community and non-judgmental acceptance over the inherent danger and darkness in what may bring a community together.
