Is On The Road a plotless movie?

Despite boasting an all-star cast that includes Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst and Sam Riley, 'On The Road' is not going to appeal to everyone. Based on Jack Kerouac's 'unfilmable' classic novel, it's an essentially plotless road movie more interested in capturing the vibrant mood of the 1940s-50s than providing gripping drama.

What's it all about?

Sam Riley plays Sal Paradise in the story, an aspiring young writer who falls under the spell of Garett Hedlund's charismatic yet dangerous Dean Moriarty. Feeling a connection to him he's rarely felt with anyone before Sal decides to follow Dean and his partner Marylou, played by Kristen Stewart, on an adventure from New York to California.

Garrett Hedlund is Dean Moriarty

Garrett Hedlund is electrifying as Dean Moriarty. It's a part that was once sought after by both Brad Pitt and Colin Farrell, but it's hard to imagine anyone being better than him. Your eyes are solely on Hedlund whenever he's on screen - a remarkable achievement since he shares scenes with acting legends like 'Boardwalk Empire's Steve Buscemi and 'The Lord Of The Rings's Viggo Mortensen.

K-Stew's at her best as the lover of both Sal and Dean (talk about poor timing)

Kristen Stewart, on the other hand, makes a brave decision in playing the excitable Marylou who becomes involved with both Sal and Dean during their journey. Sharing several steamy scenes with both lead actors the 'Twilight' star runs the risk of alienating her fans here, but the daring venture pays off. She sheds her stereotypically moody image (and often sheds her clothes too!) to give one of the finest performances in 'On The Road'. Even though a heartfelt speech about Marylou's aspirations does see the unwelcome return of the lip biting.

Cameo roles see Kirsten Dunst as an unhappy housewife and Amy Adams beating lizards with a broom?

Unfortunately, the remainder of 'On The Road! 's ensem ble aren't quite able to match the high standards set by Hedlund and Stewart. Sam Riley struggles with his accent in the lead role delivering something that can only be described as a horrifying crossbreed of North Yorkshire and the Bronx. Meanwhile, the likes of Kirsten Dunst and Elizabeth Moss appear in only one or two scenes, never given the chance to show us what they're truly made of. The most bizarre of these cameos, however, comes from an unrecognizably fuzzy-haired Amy Adams whose primary function in 'On The Road' is to wave a broomstick at some lizards. Yep, you read that right, and it is every bit as bemusing as it sounds.

Final verdict

While some will find its lack of any real story for over two hours a crushing bore, those who remain patient might just take a lot of pleasure in 'On The Road'. From the stylish look of the era to the career-best performances from Stewart and Hedlund it turns an unfilmable book into a very interesting movie.