I admittedly watch a lot of television shows and movies – comedies, dramas, documentaries, reality series, etc. – pretty much any content I can get my hands on. Hey, it’s part of the job! But occasionally, a production manages to somehow fly under my radar. Such was the case with the 2016 film “The Fundamentals of Caring,” which I only recently happened upon while perusing Netflix’s vast library. Based on Jonathan Evison’s 2012 novel “The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving” and written and directed by Rob Burnett (who was also behind the beloved series “Ed”), the heartwarming tale chronicles the life of Trevor Conklin (Craig Roberts), a young man from England with a biting wit who suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and a fear of leaving his house. Enter his newly-hired caregiver, former novelist Ben Benjamin (Paul Rudd), who, though dealing with some debilitating hurdles of his own, convinces his new ward to branch out from his restrictive self-imposed comfort zone. Together, the two embark upon a life-changing road trip to see some of the United States’ more whimsical sites – or, as Trevor puts it, “your precious country’s lamest roadside attractions – odd museums, bizarre landmarks and, of course, anything giant, from farm animals to cherry pie” – during which they discover the true healing power of friendship.
Though it might not sound like the most comedic of premises, “The Fundamentals of Caring” is undeniably funny – laugh-out-loud so! – not to mention feel-good, warm and definitely worth a watch! And the locations are pretty stellar, too!
Set mainly in Seattle, Washington, with some brief roadside stops in Utah, Idaho and a handful of other unnamed places, the movie was actually shot over the course of 23 days in the Atlanta and Cartersville, Georgia areas. Standing in for the Abundant Life Church, where Ben attends his caregiver certification course at the beginning of the film, is North Decatur Presbyterian at 611 Medlock Rd. The rustic Wes-Man’s Restaurant at 3167 US-411 in the city of White plays Idaho Bo’s where Ben and Trevor pick up Dot (Selena Gomez), an enchanting 21-year-old who is hitchhiking her way to Denver. Trevor and Dot’s dinner date takes place at the Zesto outpost located at 2469 Piedmont Rd. in Buckhead. And the World’s Deepest Pit, purported to be in Utah, is actually Bellwood Quarry in Westside Reservoir Park, an oft-used site that has popped up in such productions as “Stranger Things,” “The Walking Dead,” The Vampire Diaries” and “The Hunger Games.”
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Image Credit: Realtor.com The movie’s most prominent locale, though, is easily the dusty blue board-and-batten-sided dwelling that Trevor and his mom, Elsa Conklin (Jennifer Ehle), call home. Said to be in Seattle, in truth, the pad can be found about 20 miles north of downtown Atlanta at 130 Bent Grass Dr. in the Fulton County suburb of Roswell. (Please remember this is a private home. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way.)
I set out to identify the place shortly after watching the movie and thankfully, it was quite an easy find! Not only was a street sign reading “Bent Grass Dr.” featured prominently in the scene in which Ben and Trevor first head out on their road trip, but when the pad was offered for sale in April 2018, the listing information made mention of its “The Fundamentals of Caring” role and even included a photo of Rudd posing with the then-owners.
Originally built in 1974, the property was the work of local development company Chathambilt Homes. Recently named Georgia’s top homebuilder by Home Builder Digest, the group was also responsible for constructing many of the neighboring residences on Bent Grass Dr.
Though ranch in style, “The Fundamentals of Caring” house boasts a decidedly mid-century vibe with a sleek cross-gable roofline, central clerestory windows and retro stone and cedar detailing.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com Featuring four bedrooms and three bathrooms in 3,600 square feet, the interior is awash with MCM elements, as well, such as beamed ceilings, a slanted roofline, two brick fireplaces and an open floorplan. The residence also features some tasteful modernizations, including new hardwood flooring, renovated baths and an updated kitchen with granite counters and stainless appliances.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com Though the pad appears to consist of a single story from the street, it, in fact, boasts a basement level that is only visible from the rear. The finished space is made complete with a bedroom, bath, living room and workshop.
The surrounding 0.48-acre lot boasts a rolling lawn, mature foliage, a first-floor terrace and a large second-story deck.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com Prior to the most recent 2018 sale, the home last hit the market in August 2014, where it languished without a buyer for close to a year before ultimately being offloaded for $330,000 the following May. It was during its time in limbo that the place was selected to appear as the Conklin residence in “The Fundamentals of Caring.” Its for-sale (and likely vacant) status made it a convenient pick for the shoot, affording the production team unfettered access to the premises.
As such, both the interior and exterior of the residence were featured extensively throughout the film.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com So much of the movie’s action takes place inside the home, in fact, that it is quite unusual that a set was not constructed for interior filming. But “The Fundamentals of Caring” was produced independently before ultimately being acquired by Netflix and therefore shot on a relatively tight budget which did not allow the hefty funding that building sets requires.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com Instead, production designer Meghan Rogers redressed the property’s interior to fit the movie’s needs. Her alterations included hanging floral wallpaper on the entry and living room walls, affixing retro valances to the many windows and outfitting the rooms with pattered furniture, all of which resulted in a somewhat dated look that perfectly underscored the mundane existence Trevor carved out for himself prior to meeting Ben.