The Oranges (2011)

The enduring friendship between the Walling and Ostroff families is tested when Nina, the prodigal Ostroff daughter, returns home for the holidays after a five-year absence and enters into an affair with David, head of the Walling family.

Director:

Julian Farino

Writers:

Ian Helfer (screenplay), Jay Reiss (screenplay)

Stars:

Hugh Laurie, Allison Janney, Catherine Keener

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alia Shawkat	...	Vanessa
Hugh Laurie	...	David
Oliver Platt	...	Terry
Allison Janney	...	Cathy
Catherine Keener	...	Paige
Ian Helfer	...	Christmas Caroler
Marceline Hugot	...	Christmas Caroler
Laura Flanagan	...	Christmas Caroler
Curtis McClarin	...	Christmas Caroler
Jay Reiss	...	Christmas Caroler
Sarah Saltzberg	...	Christmas Caroler
Sam Rosen	...	Ethan
Leighton Meester	...	Nina
Adam Brody	...	Toby
Aya Cash	...	Maya

Storyline

The enduring friendship between the Walling and Ostroff families is tested when Nina, the prodigal Ostroff daughter, returns home for the holidays after a five-year absence and enters into an affair with David, head of the Walling family.

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Taglines:

It's about to get juicy.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language including sexual references, and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 October 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

La hija de mi mejor amigo

Filming Locations:

Yonkers, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$198,461 (USA) (5 October 2012)

Gross:

$364,875 (USA) (26 October 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Likely Story, Olympus Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paul Wesley auditioned for the role of Ethan.

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Goofs

When David is talking to Nina in the coffee shop, the level of Nina's coffee does not remain consistent.

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Soundtracks

"Caroling Joy to the World"
Arranged and Produced by Stephen Edwards
Courtesy Really Tall Tunes

User Reviews

No lemon

I saw this movie with zero previous knowledge and it really impressed me. Two neighbouring families in New Jersey (in an area known as The Oranges because the cities there all have the term Orange in their names -- hence the title of the movie) live harmonically next to each other. The children have grown up together, the men go jogging together, they celebrate the holidays together. They have normal problems -- one daughter doesn't seem to get on with her life, the other plans to marry a deadbeat, then breaks up with him because she caught him cheating on her. Her meddling mother wants to hook her up with their neighbour's A-student son, but the wayward daughter opts for his dad (played by Hugh Laurie) instead. Actually, a plausible choice at that point. She's fed up with college boys, needs stability, and they do care for each other. Her new manfriend feels rejuvenated since his marriage has been in the doldrums for some time. After the unlikely lovebirds have kissed, and even before their first date in a no-tell-motel, their budding affair is exposed. And a lot of hell breaks loose.

The movie plays out a conundrum scenario. On the one hand, there's nothing wrong with an loving relationship between two consenting adults, right? Nina, the girl hooking up with her family guy neighbour, says it herself in one scene: "But what if there was no wrong? ... There is no wrong." On the other hand, the very proximity between all persons involved turns against the love affair between Nina and David (family guy). David's daughter feels this most acutely: she doesn't want to become a nagging moralizer for family values. On the other hand, she doesn't want her former schoolmate Nina to become her new stepmom either.

I find this a great movie about an interesting moral dilemma.