Truly Dreadful Film

recommended

One of the worst movies I've ever seen

Absolutely Fantastic

A very dated film and feels a little Phoned in from most leads. The characters are mere archetypes but without any understanding of their flaws. I dunno, just felt kind of empty.

The Royal Tenenbaums received Oscar recognition in one category, that for Director Wes Anderson's original screenplay. It didn't win, but no one can ever say this wasn't original.Title character Gene Hackman is the estranged patriarch of the Tenenbaum clan and his baptismal name is Royal. He was a lawyer along the lines of Clarence Darrow back in the day, but has fallen on hard times. Back in his prime he walked out on wife Angelica Huston and the children who grew up to be Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Now with no place to go he decides to resume the role of dad.Problem is that Huston has decided after all these she wants a husband and man she picked out is Danny Glover. As he's already lied his way into the house with a false terminal cancer story, Hackman will have to work triple overtime to accomplish his goal.If you like quirky characters than The Royal Tenenbaums will fill your bill. I can bet that players were clamoring for these roles because there's nothing ordinary in what we see of the people in this film. Any actor would love to be in this because the writer gives them so much to work with and your imagination can sore.If you like unorothodox than The Royal Tenenbaums is your film. And whatever you think the ending will be I guarantee you will be wrong.

It seems to be generally agreed that this is Wes Anderson's staple film, or perhaps his mission statement as far as movies he wanted to create: idiosyncratic, campy tales about complex relationships being told in often witty and blunt dialogue. And no one can forget the Wes Anderson tells - symmetry, pastel or earthy color schemes, and Bill Murray. Even though the way this story is told would never happen in real life (it felt fitting that the "actual story" being told was through a book), it still feels incredibly human and almost believable in an odd way. Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) almost feels like the hero of a classic Greek tragedy, except the movie focuses more on gathering yourself the day, or in this case, the two decades after. Royal's ex-wife (Anjelica Huston), his two sons (Ben Stiller and Luke Wilson), his adopted daughter (Gwyneth Paltrow), and his children's friend from across the street (Owen Wilson) have all fallen on hard times (meltdowns, depression, drug use) decades after the family drifted apart. Royal attempts to reconnect with his family initially to keep his distanced wife from remarrying a tax advisor (Donny Glover), but throughout the film, he finds the best days of his life with his long-lost family. The group catches up with varying success and share in each other's mutual sadness. There are many beautiful and crushing scenes, heightened by the Wes Anderson style, and the story explores several different feelings and tones. I think the only real problem is that even though every character is written well and intricate in their own special way, and I believe each has an arc as well, there are so many people and histories to keep track of, it becomes a little bit of a nuisance. And the film struggles to juggle all these characters and all of this information in a balanced way; they each kind of have their moment and disappear for a while and then resurface briefly. And this makes the telling of the story a little choppy and confusing at points because you're always wondering who someone is or why they are acting the way they are until you remember through context clues. But if it weren't chosen to have this movie told through a book, I think it might have been much more noticeable. Of Anderson's films that I have seen, even though it is not my favorite by him, I'd say it's the best introduction to one of the best filmmakers in the industry right now.

Anyone who doesn't love this movie after watching it at least twice - there are a ton of shitty Adam Sandler movies waiting for you. Besides the amazing cast - this is another superb Wes Anderson creation. From beginning to end, this movie simply delivers on all levels. Those who appreciate a score that is solid throughout you will love this flick. This is one of those movies that when it's on, you simply throw the remote.