Running on Empty
"Why do you have to carry the burden of someone else's life?"—Lorna
A 1988 movie dealing with the difficult family life of the Popes -- who've been running from the FBI for many years because parents Arthur (Judd Hirsch) and Annie (Christine Lahti) blew up a napalm lab as a symbol against the Vietnam War. Together with their sons Danny (River Phoenix), now 17, and Harry they keep moving from place to place, assuming new identities every time in order to keep the authorities off their heels. Loyalities are finally put to the test when Danny meets a dedicated teacher at his new school who wants to help him get into Juillard where Danny can make some use of his gift for piano playing. Danny falls in love with the teacher's daughter, Lorna (Martha Plimpton), who makes him question his life and the relationship with his parents for the first time. In the end, he has to decide between his family and his future.
Having earned Academy Award nominations for the script and River Phoenix, this half-forgotten family film about responsibility, loyality and growing up definitely needs more love.
- Annoying Younger Sibling: Harry.
- Badass Family
- Beware the Nice Ones: The entire Pope family count. As does Lorna.
- Code Name: The Popes put the name "Sam" on all of their birthday cakes because they change their names everytime they move.
- Conflicting Loyalty: A central point of the plot.
Danny: They need me.
Lorna: I need you.
- Cool Teacher: Mr. Phillips, Lorna's dad, who becomes Danny's mentor when he notices Danny's musical talent.
- Daddy's Girl: Lorna hates being this.
- Doesn't Like Guns: Arthur. He teaches it to his sons, too.
- The Eighties
- Gone Horribly Right: Arthur and Annie succeeded in blowing up a napalm lab as they had planned, but since they accidentally blinded a man who wasn't supposed to be there, this single act has forced them to keep running from the authorities for years.
- Good Is Boring: How Lorna thinks about her family.
- Hippie Parents
- Jerkass: Arthur.
- Keeping Secrets Sucks: Danny is sick of having to change his identity every few months. Annie has problems with it too, but copes in order to protect her family.
- Kick the Dog: The Pope family abandons their dog in a parking lot in order to get rid of tracks leading back to them.
- Knight Templar: Arthur. Annie used to be one.
- Kuudere: Lorna.
- Long-Lost Relative: Annie is this to her parents. At the end of the movie she gives her son into their care.
- No More Lies: Danny, to Lorna.
- Papa Wolf: Arthur.
- Reckless Pacifists: Arthur and Annie used to be these.
- Soundtrack Dissonance: There's only soft piano music throughout most of the film.
- Stepford Snarker: Lorna.
- Stern Chase: Arthur and Annie are still being pursued by the FBI for their bombing after more than a decade has passed.
- Tired of Running
- Wacky Parent, Serious Child
- Wham! Line:
Danny: If you want to go back, that's fine with me.
Lorna: You're a bully.
Danny: No. I'm a liar.
- "What the Hell?" Dad
- White Sheep: Danny, in the end.