The Daytrippers (1996)

When a happily married woman discovers a love letter written by her husband to an unknown party, she enlists her dysfunctional family to discover the truth.

Director:

Greg Mottola

Writer:

Greg Mottola

Stars:

Hope Davis, Stanley Tucci, Parker Posey

7 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stanley Tucci	...	Louis D'Amico
Hope Davis	...	Eliza Malone D'Amico
Pat McNamara	...	Jim Malone
Anne Meara	...	Rita Malone
Parker Posey	...	Jo Malone
Liev Schreiber	...	Carl Petrovic
Stephanie Venditto	...	Cassandra
Campbell Scott	...	Eddie Masler
Marc Grapey	...	Aaron
Douglas McGrath	...	Chap
Jill Rowe	...	Monica Young
Andy Brown	...	Ronnie
Paul Herman	...	Leon
Amy Stiller	...	Amy Corinne Fairbright-Lebow
Peter Askin	...	Nick Woodman

Storyline

Eliza D'Amico thinks her marriage to Louis is going great, until she finds a mysterious love note to her husband. Concerned, she goes to her mother for advice. Eliza, her parents, her sister Jo and Jo's boyfriend all pile into a station wagon, to go to the city to confront Louis with the letter. On the way, the five explore their relations with each other, and meet many interesting people.

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Plot Keywords:

letter | party | thanksgiving | station wagon | dysfunctional family | 

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Taglines:

One station wagon. Two generations. Three couples. Four relationships.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 March 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

En route vers Manhattan

Filming Locations:

Deer Park, Long Island, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$44,928, 9 March 1997, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,084,559, 24 August 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance Communications Corporation,Cinépix Film Properties (CFP),Fiasco Photoplays

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 81 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Andrew Marvell is mentioned as a contemporary of Shakespeare, but he wasn't born until five years after the Bard of Avon died.

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Quotes

Eddie Masler: Are you an author?
Eliza D'Amico: No.
Eddie Masler: Too bad. You'd look good on a book jacket.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Christina Aguilera/Jeff Probst/Kid Rock (2015)

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Soundtracks

Manzanillo
Written by Ramon Cabrera
Performed by Benny Moré
Published by Peer International Corporation
Courtesy of RCA Records, a label of BMG Music

User Reviews

highly satisfying

A Long Island woman finds a love letter in her house and suspects her husband of cheating. Her over-protective (and very pro-active) family convinces her to confront her husband at his workplace in Manhattan. They all (wife, mom, dad, sister and sister's boyfriend) pile into the station wagon to hunt down the scoundrel. In their efforts to find him they meet a bunch of interesting characters and learn a little bit more about their own feelings for one another.

This movie is so sweet in its examination of family loyalty and so honest in its examination of long-failed relationships in denial that I feel it is easily one of the most satisfying video rentals I've ever experienced. There's enough comedy throughout to provide laughs (especially any and all jokes at the expense of Liev Schreiber's pretentious novelist) and the realistic sisterly affection shared by Parker Posey and Hope Davis is genuinely touching.

Also provides a subtle examination of the Long Islander's relationship to Manhattan - the latter acting as an unfamiliar, answerless maze through which the family has to pass in order to find the truth.