• Offbeat indie comedy
• Wonderful ensemble cast
• Refreshingly original look at a dysfunctional
family
Cons
• Few, if any, big laughs
• Unusual, and somewhat uneven, dramatic structure
• Most characters are pretentious and unlikable
The Bottom Line -
I really enjoyed the acerbic wit of "The Royal Tenenbaums,"
but what I like best about the movie is the way unlikely material
is woven into a tale of reconciliation and redemption. While
the film has lots of sarcastic humor, it ultimately offers hope
and warmth.
Product Description
•
Two-disc DVD set containing movie "The Royal Tenenbaums"
•
Co-written and directed by Wes Anderson ("Rushmore," "Bottle
Rocket")
•
Stars Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow,
Owen and Luke Wilson, Bill Murray, and Danny Glover
Reviewed by Ivana Redwine
"The Royal Tenenbaums"
This sophisticated comedy tells the tale of the talented, but dysfunctional,
Tenenbaum family. By 2001, the father, Royal Tenenbaum (Hackman),
has lived apart from the rest of the family for many years. Over those
years, the children (Stiller, Paltrow, and Luke Wilson) grew up as
prodigies, but in adulthood their lives fall apart, and all come home
to live with the mother, Etheline (Huston). When financial difficulties
force the aging Royal to reinvolve himself with his estranged wife
and adult children, the results are surprising and amusing. I really
enjoyed the acerbic wit of "The Royal Tenenbaums," but what
I like best about the movie is the way Anderson and co-writer Owen
Wilson were able to weave such seemingly unlikely material into a
tale of reconciliation and redemption. While the film has lots of
sarcastic humor, it ultimately offers hope and warmth.
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