The Family Tree (2011)

A mother and wife stricken with memory loss allows a dysfunctional family a second chance at harmony and happiness.

Director:

Vivi Friedman

Writer:

Mark Lisson

Stars:

Rachael Leigh Cook, Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Rachel Levy
Hope Davis	...	Bunnie Burnett
Dermot Mulroney	...	Jack Burnett
Max Thieriot	...	Eric Burnett
Britt Robertson	...	Kelly Burnett
Christopher Bradley	...	Bobby Overmier
Chi McBride	...	Simon Krebs
Christina Hendricks	...	Alicia Bouche
Gabrielle Anwar	...	Nina Fouts
Keith Carradine	...	Reverend Diggs
Newell Alexander	...	Dr. Lieberman
Evan Ross	...	Josh Krebs
Mac Brandt	...	Young Police Officer
Jermaine Williams	...	Trey
Bow Wow	...	T-Boy (as Shad Moss a/k/a Bow Wow)

Storyline

The Burnetts are dysfunctional. Jack and Bunnie barely speak, he fantasizes about women at work, she's having an affair with a neighbor and possibly others. Daughter Kelly is foul-mouthed; their son Eric is a militant Christian and an excellent shot. Bunnie's rich mom tries to control things. While a dead peeping Tom hangs undiscovered in a tree outside their bedroom window, Bunnie sustains a head injury and wakes up unable to remember anything after the first days of their marriage. Her newlywed sweetness infuses the family as Jack sorts through issues at work, Eric discovers flaws in his Christian posse, and Kelly makes friends with a lesbian classmate. Can this change of personality last?

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Plot Keywords:

lesbian | peeping tom | dysfunctional family | memory loss | neighbor | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, pervasive language, drug use and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Australia USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Driving Lessons

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$3,658 (USA) (26 August 2011)

Gross:

$3,658 (USA) (26 August 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Driving Lessons

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Ms. Delbo is discussing Benedict Arnold the misspelled word "suprise" is written on the blackboard behind her in two shots but in the the third shot the spelling has been hastily and sloppily corrected.

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Soundtracks

"STFU"
Written by Kari Kimmel, Joe Corcoran and Fiona Brawley
Performed by Kari Kimmel

User Reviews

A woman gets amnesia and forgets just how bad her life had become with her family.

Very funny with lots of quirks. This is a truly dark comedy about a dysfunctional family that patches itself back together again after the mom (Hope Davis) suffers a bout of amnesia after falling in the bathroom during an affair with her neighbor. The whole family has issues, and they start to put everything behind them when they see how destructive their family has become.Dermot and Hope do a great job.

Definitely worth going to see. A wonderful ensemble cast that works very well together. Max Theriot and JP Amedori are breakout stars in the making. Most of these actors play against type, which makes it even funnier. Great music and wonderful dialog. Definitely worth seeing. We were laughing in the edit bay! Beautifully shot and directed. Watch for Christina Hendricks-she is a hoot!