The Royal Tenenbaums (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
An estranged family of former child prodigies reunites when their loser-of-a-father announces he has a terminal illness in 'The Royal Tenenbaums', co-written & directed by Wes Anderson. Royal (Gene Hackman) left the family yrs. ago, but he's back to (hopefully) mend some bridges before his imminent death. This film offers a different brand of comedy than the usual Hollywood fare. It's subtle, but biting; intellectual & quirky. Watching this dysfunctional family try to come together, mature, & love is something to behold. Not all of it works (or is funny), but I quite enjoyed getting to know the Tenenbaums.
Royal may be the patriarch, but a good husband/dad he ain't. Though he & his wife Etheline (the always wonderful Anjelica Huston) have raised 3 gifted children, all of them have grown-up without meeting their full potential. In fact, they're all neurotic, burnt out, and/or on drugs. Chas (Ben Stiller) knew the ins-&-outs of real estate in high school, but he's now divorced with custody of his 2 kids, & can barely get through each day. Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow), an adopted daughter, was once a promising playwright; but she's trapped in a loveless marriage with the older Raleigh St. Clair (Bill Murray). And Richie (Luke Wilson) was a prodigious tennis player. But a meltdown in the sport, mixed with the guilt that he pines for his own sister, Margot, has really stunted his maturation process.
Royal never divorced Etheline, but he's been living in a hotel room for 3 years; having resisted seeing his family ever since. What's got him invested in re-connecting with his family is the late-breaking news that Etheline is considering marriage to Henry Sherman (Danny Glover). Royal is determined to win her back. Faking cancer, he returns to his expensive Manhattan apartment at the same time as his 3 children return (from their recent breakdowns). So with all the Tenenbaums back under the same roof, you can imagine the humor & chaos that comes from this type of situation.
If you enjoy sly, dry, off-beat humor, than this is the film to watch; it revels in it! Though Ben Stiller & Owen Wilson are in this, don't expect some silly Zoolander or Meet the Parents romp. Rarely is 'The Royal Tenenbaums' laugh-out-loud funny, but it's quite clever, sophisticated, & intuitive. Warning: sections of the plot DO include the death of an animal & possible incest. If you can get past that, you should be fine for the duration. Another aspect of this film that's interesting is: while it's quite funny, there's also a deep melancholy to it all. I like the juxtaposition.
Chronicling the rise, fall, & potential rise again of this family makes for an intriguing 105 minutes. The entire cast is engaging. Gene Hackman's portrayal of Royal as a useless, pathetic, cling-on of a man is so bang-on that you actually wind up liking him in the end. Even though he's a miserable man, he brings the family together again (for better or worse). Anjelica Huston is great in all her deadpan glory. And Gwyneth Paltrow gives, perhaps, the best performance of the lot. As Margot, she's extremely mannered, deliberate, & humorously morose. If I had any complaints, it would be that some of the story arcs are underplayed to a fault. Also, the laughs are top heavy (coming mainly from the 1st half of the film). But overall, I dare you not to chuckle or grin throughout most of this bizarre affair.
Royal may be the patriarch, but a good husband/dad he ain't. Though he & his wife Etheline (the always wonderful Anjelica Huston) have raised 3 gifted children, all of them have grown-up without meeting their full potential. In fact, they're all neurotic, burnt out, and/or on drugs. Chas (Ben Stiller) knew the ins-&-outs of real estate in high school, but he's now divorced with custody of his 2 kids, & can barely get through each day. Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow), an adopted daughter, was once a promising playwright; but she's trapped in a loveless marriage with the older Raleigh St. Clair (Bill Murray). And Richie (Luke Wilson) was a prodigious tennis player. But a meltdown in the sport, mixed with the guilt that he pines for his own sister, Margot, has really stunted his maturation process.
Royal never divorced Etheline, but he's been living in a hotel room for 3 years; having resisted seeing his family ever since. What's got him invested in re-connecting with his family is the late-breaking news that Etheline is considering marriage to Henry Sherman (Danny Glover). Royal is determined to win her back. Faking cancer, he returns to his expensive Manhattan apartment at the same time as his 3 children return (from their recent breakdowns). So with all the Tenenbaums back under the same roof, you can imagine the humor & chaos that comes from this type of situation.
If you enjoy sly, dry, off-beat humor, than this is the film to watch; it revels in it! Though Ben Stiller & Owen Wilson are in this, don't expect some silly Zoolander or Meet the Parents romp. Rarely is 'The Royal Tenenbaums' laugh-out-loud funny, but it's quite clever, sophisticated, & intuitive. Warning: sections of the plot DO include the death of an animal & possible incest. If you can get past that, you should be fine for the duration. Another aspect of this film that's interesting is: while it's quite funny, there's also a deep melancholy to it all. I like the juxtaposition.
Chronicling the rise, fall, & potential rise again of this family makes for an intriguing 105 minutes. The entire cast is engaging. Gene Hackman's portrayal of Royal as a useless, pathetic, cling-on of a man is so bang-on that you actually wind up liking him in the end. Even though he's a miserable man, he brings the family together again (for better or worse). Anjelica Huston is great in all her deadpan glory. And Gwyneth Paltrow gives, perhaps, the best performance of the lot. As Margot, she's extremely mannered, deliberate, & humorously morose. If I had any complaints, it would be that some of the story arcs are underplayed to a fault. Also, the laughs are top heavy (coming mainly from the 1st half of the film). But overall, I dare you not to chuckle or grin throughout most of this bizarre affair.