While I am not a fan of the Twilight series I cannot say the same for Taylor Lautner. As a martial artist I have followed his career well before he became the heartthrob werewolf most know him for now, so I love seeing him do different things in hopes that he would get the chance to shine in something so much bigger. His latest Run the Tide is a far cry from the big studio franchise, but does it give him the platform to flex his acting muscles or will it be a trip that breaks down before it can hit the road?

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Run the Tide follows Rey who gave up his chance at college and love to raise his young half-brother Oliver, who looks nothing like him - "same mom, different dads." But when his meth addicted mother, Lola, is released from prison determined to rebuild her family, Rey kidnaps his younger brother and escapes their desert home for the California coast, chasing the dream that he let go years ago. Lola turns to her ex-husband Bo to help find her missing boys, bringing up ghosts from their own failed relationship. With nothing but the open road ahead of them, and Lola and Bo in close pursuit, Rey and Oliver race away from a past they never wanted, towards a future that could have been. This film features a great supporting cast including Constance Zimmer, Kenny Johnson, Johanna Braddy, and Nico Christou coming together to bring this effective drama to life. While everyone is good in the film it is Lautner who really has to carry it and does a great job. I have always thought that he had the makings of a great action star, but needed a bit more with the acting experience and here he clearly has it. He brings so much depth and emotion to this role that you can see he is all in from the opening scene.

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Opposite of Lautner is Nico Christou who brings a great performance as well. For a young actor he does such a good job with bringing the heavy handed struggle of emotions that he has to have. He and Lautner have great chaotic chemistry together that feels like two real brothers dealing with so many things and in turn makes this film work in ways it may not have otherwise. This isn’t an overly deep film, but instead just a character driven story that deals with loss and struggle while offering up redeeming moments and heartbreak while never trying to make it more than it wants to be. Director Soham Mehta has done an excellent job at delivering a film that brings real life to the screen successfully and a story that is sure to engage.