The Pope family knows things that other families don't. For instance, the Popes know how to leave town forever on a moment's notice, abandoning everything, even the family dog. The parents, Arthur (Judd Hirsch) and Annie (Christine Lahti), know how to find new jobs that don't require much experience or attract much attention. The children, Danny (River Phoenix) and Harry (Jonas Abry), know they ought to miss school on the day when class photographs are being taken. All the Popes know how to change the subject smoothly when anyone asks who they are or where they came from.As ''Running on Empty'' begins, with a tense, efficient sequence that shows the family staging an emergency departure from a town in Florida, one thing is clear: the Popes are approaching a crisis. They have been living this way too long.The heart of ''Running on Empty'' is the slow-burning romance between Danny and the smart, tomboyish Lorna Phillips (Martha Plimpton), the daughter of the high school music teacher (Ed Crowley) in the New Jersey.Running on Empty'' works best when it plays upon emotions generated by the Popes'.The casting, for the most part, is very good.the film can sound abruptly stagy notes, too. Luckily, ''Running on Empty'' has a lot more momentum than its title suggests, enough energy to take an unusual and intriguing premise and see it through.
Overall film has good story,good cast,good direction..Specially River Phoenix done really great job.He always prove he is a best actor..From me 6+3 out of 10(3 for River Phoenix)