The Road to Wellville (1994)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

The eccentric Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (Anthony Hopkins) runs Battle Creek Sanitarium, a place for health. Though, Kellogg uses unconventional techniques, raising questions about his methods and sparking chaos in the world of health practices. The Road to Wellville is an astute examination of capitalism, big pharma, and fad diets. 

The Road to Wellville takes a satirical approach toward analyzing and exposing the reality behind many of the standard practices of the modern day. While the film takes place in the early twentieth century, its themes and messages are just as easily applicable today–making the film a wildly successful venture into the world of that aforementioned satire. What Director Alan Parker does so incredibly well is insert comedy into every facet of the film in a way that not only makes you chuckle, but allows viewers further insight into the topics at hand. The comedy acts as a window into the film’s ultimate purpose of shedding light on an unsavory system. 

Additionally, Parker takes a very theatrical approach toward creating The Road to Wellville, allowing many of the performances to appear overdramatic–which, to a degree, works in its favor. Again, the film looks to shed light on what it believes to be a flawed system, and the exaggerated nature of the performances does work to strengthen the overall satire present in the film. However, while it certainly works to a degree, for someone like me who doesn’t typically appreciate the theater, the performances present in The Road to Wellville can often be offputting. I have something of a love-hate relationship with the performances, understanding that each of the actors are successful in performing the way in which they were asked, but sometimes struggling to appreciate the style in which Parker presents his characters to the world. 

What’s most impressive about The Road to Wellville is its aesthetic. Both set and costume design work greatly in favor of the production, effectively transporting viewers back in time and immersing them in a world far different from their own, and in a way that allows them to fully appreciate it. The set design and costumes accurately reflect the early twentieth century, allowing for no issue of suspending disbelief and presenting viewers the opportunity to focus on the dialogue, satirical comedy, and overarching messages present within The Road to Wellville. 

The Road to Wellville does sometimes feel as if it oversteps in terms of comedy; not in the sense that it’s necessarily inappropriate, but in the sense that it sometimes feels like it overshadows the intended drama and suspense. I’ve expressed my appreciation for the comedy, but there are moments when comedy is infused into the narrative at the expense of the intended drama. Furthermore, each of the characters present in The Road to Wellville possess serious flaws that often make it challenging to root for them. There are flaws in Parker’s process for sure, flaws that hinder the film’s success–but The Road to Wellville ultimately finds its footing and reels viewers in time and time again. While there are certainly moments in which The Road to Wellville struggles to entice viewers, the film, just as well, manages to intrigue viewers while effectively presenting a narrative that has stood the test of time. 

Directed by Alan Parker. 

Written by T. Coraghessan Boyle & Alan Parker. 

Starring Anthony Hopkins, Bridget Fonda, Matthew Broderick, John Cusack, Dana Carvey, etc. 

7/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE