Quietly powerful
This is an interesting movie to me as a writer.
There are three basic types of conflict and, as all writers know, you must have conflict to have a story. The three conflicts are: man vs man, man vs nature and man vs himself.
The interesting thing about this movie is that at a superficial glance, there is NO conflict. There is no bad guy, no dramatic problem that must be "overcome," etc. Just a man who has lost his son going to pick up the pieces, and taking a long walk.
And yet...very quietly...all THREE conflicts are in play. The simple discussions and squabbles among he pilgrims are man vs man, the road itself is the man vs nature, and the man vs himself is reflected in their individual quests (to quit smoking, to lose weight, etc).
The lack of violence, or even threat of violence, seems odd in a movie today. But it as a nice change of pace.
Utimately, this movie clearly means more to the Sheen/Estevez family, and probably to those who walk the Camino, but it was nonetheless a pleasant and engaging film.
Although a scene at the end where Jason Statham kicks the crap out of a group of thugs WOULD have been nice...