When someone makes a movie about two guys, the words buddy movie usually leap discouragingly to mind. That's not the case with Old Joy, a film in which director Kelly Reichardt tells the story of two friends who haven't seen each other for a while.

Old Joy takes an evocative look at an interlude in which little happens but much is suggested. Reichardt works with a narrow range, yet her movie never feels claustrophobic or boxed-in.

Based on a short story by Jon Raymond, Old Joy focuses on Mark (Daniel London) and Kurt (Will Oldham). Mark lives with his pregnant wife (Tanya Smith). Kurt has been drifting but returns to Portland, where he contacts his friend and proposes a quick camping trip to a wonderful spot where there's a secluded hot springs.

Although the men no longer share the same kind of lives, Kurt wants to renew the friendship.

Mark does his best to square things with his wife and takes off with his pal. One evening they get lost and wind up camping in a less-than-gorgeous spot. The next day, they find their way to the hot springs, which has tubs carved out of logs in which the men soak.

That's it. I'm not kidding. That's really it.

The men talk - actually, Kurt does most of the rambling, riffing about his view of the universe. He also smokes a lot of pot, bought before the trip with money from Mark. Talk radio (Air America) sometimes creates a backdrop of political discomfort and societal turmoil as the men drive.

Old Joy rides on layers of subtext. Maybe it's nothing but subtext, a quiet look at men who've grown a little awkward with each other. When he takes a call from his wife, Mark always lowers his voice and walks away from Kurt, as if he doesn't want to share that part of his life with his friend.

Mark has reached a crossroads. Fatherhood probably will propel him into the larger society that Kurt skillfully has avoided. As Kurt puts it, he's never gotten involved with anything he couldn't abandon. It's possible that when Mark returns home, he'll no longer have the ability to revisit secret places.

Reichardt brings this tiny story to screen with a sense of quiet confidence. She's not about to hurry or force the drama or maybe even worry whether she'll find anything momentous at all.

You may find yourself asking whether anything's going to happen. But for those who can tolerate a slow-brewing movie, Reichardt's work provides sufficient rewards. Old Joy should be regarded as the movie equivalent of a short story. Don't go expecting a novel.

Old Joy

Buddies on a short road trip.

• Grade: B

• Unrated

• Running time: 76 minutes