Proving that a dysfunctional family is any family with more than one member

Wes Anderson is a very unique director. He has a excellent blend of comedy and drama that have a great flow while providing terrific characterization. He has made four films and I have yet to see his first two. His last two both do a fine job of displaying deep human emotions while adding offbeat humor. The Royal Tenenbaums is a realistic and very funny comedy-drama with perfect acting and original screenplay.

Royal Tenenbaum and Etheline Tenenbaum got married and had three kids and then divorced. Chas was a business genius and made money by breeding Dalmatian Mice and selling them. Margot was adopted and was a playwright and wrote many plays. Richie was a tennis champion who turned pro. They were taught by Etheline and not having much contact with their father, Royal. Now years later their legacy is forgotten and all have their own lives. Chas is neurotic with his two sons as he never got over his wife’s death. Margot is married to an older psychologist; she has many emotional problems but keeps them bottled up. Richie had a breakdown at his last tennis match and hasn’t quite been the same. Royal has been living in a hotel for the past 22 years when he is finally kicked out. He deceives his ex wife into thinking he has cancer since all he wants to do is get back with his family and make amends.

The Royal Tenenbaums plays out like a novel. Every so often a new chapter comes up where the first few lines of the book come on for a few seconds. If Wes Anderson wanted to hew could probably turn his screenplay into a full length novel since each line feels so authentic and realistic. Since it is a movie we don’t necessarily rely on our imagination but that doesn’t mean the film doesn’t have any imagination. The set designs are very creative and well designed. The Tenenbaums house is shown in great detail and has a lot of props to it. Everybody’s room is seen and we get a feel as to the characters personality. Even the dvd comes with a full outline of their whole house and all of the rooms.

One of the greatest strengths this film possesses is certainly its characterization. Each character is wonderfully developed and we see more and more of that as the film progresses. While each character has different characteristics in the end we understand things their way and see things their way in several key scenes. Royal Tenenbaum may have made mistakes in the past but comes full circle in understanding and loving his family. Chas is unforgiving of his father and doesn’t want him back in his life. However his character is very well thought out and excellently portrayed. Margot and Richie Tenenbaum are both very complex characters that require a lot of depth and focus and have many great moments that expand and grow on their already complex characters.

As the film carries a near perfect screenplay the next best thing to back that up is an excellent acting cast. This film is no disappointment in that area. Gene Hackman is really pulls through an impressive performance as a unique person who just wants to do the right thing. He is comedic and feels he never understood his children. Ben Stiller plays an incredibly neurotic character who has a many emotional problems and trouble expressing them. Normally Ben Stiller plays comedic non serious people but portrays a serious individual with ease. Gwyneth Paltrow gives an equally great performance of a fallen genius. She is sympathetic and is great at keeping secrets. Luke Wilson plays the more normal of the three. He is complex but not in a way you would imagine. He desperately wants to get closer to his father but has trouble. He loves Margot but doesn’t know how to express it. If anything he is exceptionally realistic and writes letters to his friend. Everyone else does a great job including a very offbeat Bill Murray and Danny Glover. Owen Wilson who co-wrote the film plays a comedic character who is good for a few laughs.

Throughout the film it conveys emotions while being constantly funny. The humor is subtle and makes you smile rather than laugh. The dialogue is smart and builds on characters emotions. The story is brilliantly set up and takes advantage of dry narration that plays over perfectly. The soundtrack is great and fits the movie perfectly. The opening song of the instrumental of Hey Jude goes with the mood and gives it a lighthearted feel. The Charlie Brown Christmas song sounds emotional where as the Rolling Stones “Ruby Tuesday” brings back the cautiously optimistic light hearted feel. No matter what song plays it fits the tone and brings emotion from all levels.

Overall this is one excellent film. So far I would say it is better than the Life Aquatic. Wes Anderson is one extremely talented director and screen writer and I hope he continues to make great movies. I hope to see Rushmore next since I have heard great things about that. He touches on human emotions so dangerously realistic yet provides comedy to lighten the mood. The final scene is beautiful and poetic. It may seem to have a sad ending but in fact is happy as the family differences are resolved and they are one again. It is hard to determine the true meaning of the film but I think it fits somewhere along the lines of always stick together as a family. I suppose it is up to interpretation but it doesn’t make a difference. Every scene is as good as the last until it finishes with the conclusion. It is around two hours long but in all honesty could have ran for well over three hours and still would have been just as good. It is original and one of the best films of the last ten years. Although it may not be for everyone it is certainly is worth a look. Wes Anderson truly hit the jackpot with this film I just wonder how his other two will ever top this one.

5 stars

Cast

Gene Hackman .... Royal Tenenbaum
Anjelica Huston .... Etheline Tenenbaum
Gwyneth Paltrow .... Margot Tenenbaum
Ben Stiller .... Chas Tenenbaum
Luke Wilson .... Richie Tenenbaum
Owen Wilson .... Eli Cash
Danny Glover .... Henry Sherman
Bill Murray .... Raleigh St. Clair
Alec Baldwin .... Narrator (voice)