Ride (2014)

Ride is the kind of warm, clear-eyed movie that sneaks up on you: a sunlit, seaside dramedy that uses surf culture not as a gimmick, but as a gentle metaphor for learning when to hold on and when to let go. Helen Hunt brings a wonderfully lived-in mix of humor, control, and vulnerability to Jackie, and her direction keeps the story grounded in small, recognizable moments that feel earned rather than manufactured. The film balances laughs with genuinely poignant emotional turns, capturing the awkward tenderness of a parent realizing their child’s life won’t follow the script they imagined. If you’re allergic to low-key, character-driven stories, it may feel modest—but if you want something touching, relatable, and quietly uplifting, Ride is a lovely bet.

Ride is clearly aiming for a warm, sunlit story about a controlling mom learning to loosen her grip and let her son chase a different kind of life, with a little romance and self-discovery on the side. The problem is it often feels like it’s hitting pre-set “inspirational” beats, with dialogue that can sound staged and characters who don’t get enough depth to earn the emotional turns. The pacing is leisurely to the point of sluggish, and if you’re sensitive to an overbearing protagonist, you may find Jackie more grating than endearing for a good chunk of the runtime. Still, the beach setting is pleasant and the message is well-intentioned, so it may work for you if you’re in the mood for a gentle, low-stakes comfort watch and don’t mind clichés.