Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember
The opening title of Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember appears as scribbles across lined notebook paper, flipped through by Hemsworth himself. His father, Craig, records the moment with a handheld camera as the pair embark on a road trip across Australia in the wake of Craig’s recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The film immediately establishes a playful, self-referential intimacy: Chris filming himself filming, while Craig films Chris filming, all while the crew-operated camera keeps rolling. When Chris asks how it feels to return to the old road after so many years, Craig’s easy reply – “It’s bloody hot” – lands with a humour and honesty that carry through the rest of the feature.
A collaboration between Disney+ and National Geographic, the documentary thrives on its shifting perspectives – both on camera and beyond the lens. Tight close-ups, front-view handheld shots and wide panoramas capture the countryside, the winding roads, and the Hemsworth family home. At times, the visuals reveal the film’s ambitions a little too plainly: nostalgic scenes in the family house lean heavily on saturated yellow tones, overplaying the sentimentality, while Hemsworth’s direct-to-camera addresses – sharply lit against cool, sterile blues – feel overly polished, a stark contrast to the rawness of the road trip and family interactions. Even the Docklands Stadium, where Chris meets dementia specialist Dr Suraj Samtani, is chaotic and almost surreal for such a personal discussion. Although the metaphor is clichéd, it mostly works: the roar and movement of the crowd underscore the importance of human connection, echoing Dr Samtani’s point that strong social bonds can halve the risk of dementia, even for those with a genetic predisposition.
Craig’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis is handled with nuance and sensitivity. Early on, the movie shows glimpses of his short-term memory struggles, but it never lets the condition define him. He remains a lively, vigorous presence – racing motorcycles along empty country roads, roughhousing with his sons and six grandchildren, and embracing each moment as it comes. The most intimate scene arrives near the end, around a bonfire, when father and son finally have an honest conversation about Craig’s diagnosis. Flames flicker, silence stretches, and the surrounding darkness feels almost alive. Alzheimer’s is present, but it never dominates. Though the production leans on familiar tropes and framing, its sincerity and simplicity bring the enduring father-son bond to life.
Christina Yang
Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember is released on Disney+ on 24th November 2025.
Watch the trailer for Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember here:
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