The Discoverers (2012)

The Discoverers is a 2012 American dark comedy directed and written by Justin Schwarz. The film stars Griffin Dunne, Madeleine Martin, and Cara Buono.
== Plot ==
Lewis Birch is a has-been professor in Chicago, Illinois. Once teaching for The University of Chicago, he now teaches history at a community college. He also has a part-time job in the building as a security guard, and is in the process of trying to get a book published by the Eastern Kentucky State University Press.
Recently divorced, he plans to take his teenage children, son Jack and daughter Zoe, on a supposed vacation to the Pacific Northwest. In reality it is a trip to a work conference Lewis has planned, though an unexpected change of plans occurs when his brother Bill calls and alerts him of their mother’s ailing health.
He returns to his apartment in Chicago where he and the children stay the night. During breakfast, Lewis tells them about the change of plans, much to their confusion, and ends up sending them to a diner so he can confront his estranged father, Stanley, alone. There, he discovers his mother, Shirley, already dead on the bathroom floor. 
Later that night, Zoe finds Lewis alone, and tries to comfort him. The family holds a funeral and Lewis meets a woman named Nell Pope, who knew his mother as a friend. Afterwards, Bill leaves Lewis to tie up loose ends. Lewis receives a call about his book, and finds out that certain cuts will have to be made in order to have it published. Though he is determined to resume his plans for the conference, Stanley is found to be in a catatonic state due to grief, and he reschedules. 
After an acknowledgement of Zoe’s fifteenth birthday, they discover Stanley has gone missing. While searching for his whereabouts, Lewis tells the children about his father’s knack for “discovery treks”, particularly due to a fascination with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They encounter Cyrus Marshall, a man playing the role of Meriwether Lewis. They soon find Stanley at the trekking site, though he won’t communicate. 
Lewis alerts his father’s doctor of the situation, and is advised to go along with things to bring Stanley back to reality. Much to Zoe’s chagrin, they vote to follow the orders. Once they are initiated, they begin their first trek and are expected to reenact time as if it were 1805. 
Stanley, assuming the role of William Clark, still refuses to speak to his son. Meanwhile, Lewis receives another call regarding his work conference, being told he has only three days to get there. While adjusting to the historical expectations, Lewis talks with Nell, who is also participating in the event. She helps him make a vegan cake to celebrate Zoe’s birthday, as she refuses to consume animal products.
While they eat by the campfire, Lewis tells some of the story of Lewis and Clark, leading to the topic of his novel being shared, the story of York, a slave, being involved in the expedition. The mention of York still being treated as a slave on American soil finally causes Stanley to speak, albeit angrily, and he storms off. 
Lewis later promises Zoe that they will make it to the Pacific. The next morning, Stanley abruptly wakes everyone and forces them to continue the trek. A flustered Zoe discovers she is having her first period, but with no proper supplies provided, she and Lewis hitchhike to town. While waiting to be picked up by a passerby, Lewis warns her of being careful if sexually active, and struggles to console her. 
Lewis discovers that his wallet and other belongings are missing, and Zoe decides to shoplift sanitary napkins. While doing so, two young boys heckle her and she persuades them to pay her so that she will perform sexual acts for them. Meanwhile, Lewis calls his publisher about his book, who tells him that another author has already taken his place, and any plans to publish have been canceled.
Zoe uses the boys’ payment to purchase the product, and Lewis enters another store nearby, where he discovers the book published by the rival author. In a rage, he destroys one of the novels and a cardboard cutout on display. Zoe finds him and feigns being his caregiver, making it appear as if he’s experiencing a mental health crisis. 
In the meantime, Jack and Abigail Marshall, Cyrus’ daughter, form a romance. They are found by Lewis and are asked about Stanley’s current whereabouts, though it becomes obvious they are high after smoking marijuana. Lewis and Zoe trek through the woods and find a buck, but while they watch it in amazement, Stanley and Cyrus happen to be hunting in the area and they kill it. Lewis warns Stanley to back off, and he and Zoe continue their journey.
By nightfall, the pair returns to the campsite. Lewis exclaims that he is intending to leave the following day for Oregon, and plans to return his father home. Jack and Abigail return to the campsite with people portraying Native Americans. Cyrus reenacts the peace ceremony between Lewis and Clark and the natives, and the group dances to fiddle music.
Afterwards, Nell and Lewis talk amongst themselves and reminisce. Nell insists he smokes some of Jack’s pot, but he refuses, claiming it makes him emotional. However, after some convincing, he smokes some anyway, and laments his washed-up career and perceived failure as a father. Nell comforts him and he excuses himself for the night.
The next morning, Lewis awakens to a commotion outside. Cyrus and Stanley are trying to punish Jack for having sexual relations with Abigail. Stanley excommunicates the Birches from the group, though Lewis is more than ready to leave. 
Before he and the kids depart, Stanley is found ready to shoot at the group of Native reenactors, and Lewis tries to talk him down. Stanley aims his gun at him and shoots, though he misses. Lewis then calls Stanley by his preferred name “Captain Clark”, and finally plays his part as “Meriwhether Lewis”. This catches Stanley’s attention, and Lewis uses this to his advantage. While still determined to shoot, Lewis tells him that it’s not his fault that Floyd (referencing Charles Floyd, who died during the actual expedition) died. This alludes to his mother’s death, and Stanley finally relents and expresses grief over the loss, and he is led away from the scene. 
Nell ends up driving the family to Oregon, as Stanley admits to burying their belongings but losing track of where he did so. After a lengthy road trip, Stanley tells Lewis that Shirley always wanted the two of them to get along, even encouraging her husband to write a letter of reconciliation, though he never sent it. Rather than attend his work conference, Lewis decides to put his plans aside. They take in the beauty of the coast and Zoe suggests that Lewis reads his conference speech to them instead, which he agrees to. 
The Birches and Nell watch the coast, and much of the familial dysfunction is resolved. 
== Cast ==
* Griffin Dunne as Lewis Birch
* Madeleine Martin as Zoe Birch
* Cara Buono as Nell Pope
* John C. McGinley as William “Bill” Birch
* Stuart Margolin as Stanley Birch
* Devon Graye as Jack Birch
* Ann Dowd as Patti 
* Dreama Walker as Abigail “Abby” Marshall
* David Rasche as Cyrus Marshall
* Becky Ann Baker as Mary Marshall
* Scott Adsit as Harry Hardcore 
* Todd Susman as Dr. Salter
* Hannah Dunne as Student
== Trivia ==
* The film was initially released on October 6, 2012, though this was an exclusive screening. It was later officially released on May 16, 2014.
* Due to his obsession with Lewis and Clark, Stanley named both of his sons after them, though Lewis’ name is “Lewis Meriwether” rather than the other way around.
* Griffin Dunne and his daughter Hannah are both in the film. She had a bit part as a student of Lewis Birch.
Category:Films
Category:2012 films
Category:2010s films