Interstate 60 (film)

Interstate 60: Episodes of The Road is a 2002 metaphysical comedy/drama road film starring James Marsden, Gary Oldman, Amy Smart, Christopher Lloyd, Chris Cooper and Kurt Russell, with a cameo by Michael J. Fox. The film was written and directed by Bob Gale, in his feature film directorial debut.

Plot

The movie begins with two college students in a bar, talking about a thesis statement for an upcoming paper. One of them makes an argument that America is unique in that it has no real mythological character for granting wishes, such as a genie or leprechaun. The two men are soon joined in conversation by an old man at the bar claiming that America does, named O.W. Grant; the son of a leprechaun and a Cheyenne Indian.

O.W. Grant, who can be found near Interstate 60, wears a red bow tie, carries a pipe with mysterious powers in the shape of a monkey-head and grants people their wish, often with the macabre twist that the wish manifests exactly as it was worded.

In the opening credits, Grant (Oldman), rides down a city street where a man (Fox) opens his car door, causing Grant to fall from his bike and break his pipe. The bicycle is smashed when a truck runs over it. Grant, seemingly amused, asks him if he wished the event never happened. When the man says yes, green smoke billows from Grant's pipe and the scene begins again. This time, Grant safely avoids the car door. As he watches, the man gets out of his car and is crushed by the oncoming truck. Grant retorts, "Some people just don't know what to wish for."