RIDE (2014)

At first glance, Ride would seem to be one big cliche.  Helen Hunt (who also wrote and directed) plays single mom Jackie, an intellectual, anal-retentive book editor in New York whose son Angelo (Brenton Thwaites - who, somehow, gets better looking and more skilled as an actor with each role), an aspiring literary writer, is about to visit his dad in Los Angeles for the summer, before starting college in NYC in the fall.  The mother-son bond between them is strong - almost a death-grip, when it comes to Jackie - and when, early on in the summer, Angelo decides to forego college and stay in California, enjoying sun, sand and surf, Jackie reacts by flying out to L.A. without warning to bring him home.  But what sounds like a cliched plot actually becomes much more under Hunt's strong lead performance and intelligent script.  Her chemistry with Thwaites also rings very true, and with David Zayas and Luke Wilson adding comic support, Ride contains more depth and originality than one might first think, when watching it.  And, thanks largely to Hunt, it's well worth your time. (rated R)  B