Reuniting the Rubins (2010)

One man's mission to follow his dream is comically halted in its tracks at the request of his dear, but difficult, aged Jewish mother who is hell-bent on seeing her warring dysfunctional grown up grandchildren together one last time before she dies.

Director:

Yoav Factor

Writer:

Yoav Factor (screenplay)

Stars:

Timothy Spall, James Callis, Rhona Mitra

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Timothy Spall	...	Lenny Rubin
James Callis	...	Danny Rubin
Rhona Mitra	...	Andie Rubin
Honor Blackman	...	Gran Rubin
Hugh O'Conor	...	Yona Rubin
Asier Newman	...	Clarity Rubin
Theo Stevenson	...	Jake Rubin
Blake Harrison	...	Nick
Louise Brealey	...	Miri Rubins
Claudia Coulter	...	Marta
James Vaughan	...	Michael Brown (as James Vaughn)
Neil Conrich	...	Rabbi Cohen
Rez Kempton	...	Dr. Maniram Nehru
Alison Pargeter	...	Nurse
Rita Davies	...	Old Lady 1

Storyline

An up-tight lawyer, Lenny Rubins, (Timothy Spall), has to put his dream retirement on hold when his ailing mother (Honor Blackman) emotionally blackmails him into reuniting his estranged children for a Jewish holiday. They may be peas from the same pod, but in Lenny's eyes, his grown-up children are certainly not even from the same planet: a ruthless control-freak and hard-nosed capitalist, an outspoken, argumentative eco-warrior committed to the cause, an outer-worldly Buddhist Monk; and to cap it all, a bible bashing born-again Rabbi. While they might quarrel, fight, and perhaps even be starting a war in Africa, they are still family. It is going to take a whole lot of soul-searching and sacrifice for everyone to come together in this comic drama.

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Taglines:

One BIG happy family.... crisis!!!!!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 2011 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$734 (USA) (16 March 2012)

Gross:

$12,746 (USA) (11 May 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Factor Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min 99 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

A British Woody Allen

Reuniting the Rubins places itself very much in Woody Allen territory, with one disaster after another striking Lenny Rubins as his unruly children and matriarchal mother reek havoc upon his travel plans. Yet all is resolved amidst much joviality and after numerous twists in which these endearing characters play out their various "missions" until, like a good tragic comedy, order and harmony are restored. Reuniting the Rubins is well written and beautifully observed slice of Jewish family life, and one doesn't have to be Jewish (I'm not) to appreciate the subtleties of character and the playfulness and fun that went into the making of this film.