Truth be told, Oscar-winning Tim Robbins hasn’t made a splash on the big screen since 2003’s Mystic River. And his appearance in this low budget indie film isn’t likely to change that fact any time soon either.

He plays Fred Cheaver, one of three soldiers returning from Iraq, whose paths cross at an airport in NY, NY. Due to a blackout all flights are cancelled, leaving Fred, Colee (Rachel McAdams) and TK (Michael Pena) stranded. Although everyone else also has had the bright idea to hire a car, a patriotic car rental clerk pulls them a favour and gives them the last car left.

The plan is to drive to another airport so they can once again go their separate ways; however, as often happens on road trips, things very rarely go to plan. This allows the three newly acquainted amigos, to not only get to know each other, but probably more importantly, their back stories.

I've got it, why don't we become a Destiny's Child tribute act?

Cheaver is on his way home to his wife, after finishing is very last tour of duty, hoping to pretty much pick up his life where he left off. Colee is on a quest to return the guitar of her boyfriend, who fell in combat, to his parents. And TK, who took some shrapnel to his leg, is hoping a visit to some high class hookers in Vegas who will hopefully help restore his mojo in time for his reunion with his girlfriend.

Their journey, of course, reveals to them that nothing is quite as it seems; not only on personal levels, but the general reaction from their fellow countryman, as they’re often greeted with a heavy dose of apathy along the way for serving their country.

At times it almost feels like a documentary, with the kind of mundane dialogue you would excuse real folk for saying. If they wanted a documentary feel, perhaps director Neil Burger (The Illusionist) should have done just that. But there is no overlooking the fact that it is woefully underwritten.

It also suffers from being a tad predictable; there’s nothing worse than watching a road movie where the destination is the bleedin’ obvious. At least Road to Nowhere isn’t on the soundtrack, which is about the only surprising thing about it.

What makes this film however are the charming performances from its three leads. It’s the bond between them that holds everything together, as we watch three strangers with only a war in common, look out for each other on a new type of battle field – home. They are an odd trio, but their sense of camaraderie and their new-found friendship makes it worth hitching a ride with them on their highly personal road trip.