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:

It's a family affair.

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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

Chap: We need to open another bottle of vodka. It seems that you put most of the last bottle in your mouth.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Jungle 2 Jungle/The Daytrippers/Kama Sutra/Good Luck/Gentlemen Don't Eat Poets (1997)

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Soundtracks

My True Love
Written and Performed by Freddie McKay
Published by Jamrec Music
Courtesy of Studio One/Heartbeat Records
by arrangement with Ocean Park Music

User Reviews

A small film that is easy to miss but should be seen

While I've been meaning to see this film for years, (I think the trailer was on the Reservoir Dogs VHS that I wore out before I bought it on DVD) it was one of probably hundreds of films that I put on my back burner. So when I recently saw it was on a pay channel I jumped on it, and am very glad that I did finally see this gem.

The Daytrippers involves a woman (Davis) whose resolve that she is happily married is tested when she finds an excerpt from a love poem that fell from her husband's (Tucci) clothes. She elects to go to her mother (Meara) for advice and ends up going on a day trip to NYC to ask her husband about it. Along for the ride is her father, (McNamara) her sister, (Posey) and her sister's boyfriend (Schrieber). Of course, if they were able to simply confront her husband it would be easy; unfortunately he is no where to be found, so they willingly engage in amateur sleuthing to put together the story while they drive around the city looking for him.

The plot is a fairly simple one, but the character development is the true star of the film. While Parker Posey is known best for playing `quirky yet intelligent' characters, her role seems more of a natural addition in this film rather than a run-of-the-mill portrayal for her. Meara is nearly maddening as a meddling mother, and McNamara, a well established character actor is heartbreakingly sweet as the weary father. Davis and Tucci are both fantastic as usual, and while Tucci's role is a small one, he exhibits his usual passion that makes him an exciting actor. Davis gives her character a palpable fragility that just barely makes room for the modicum of strength that is holding her together. In my opinion, the true breakout star of the film is Schrieber as Carl Petrovic, `the boyfriend'. His character has so many facets to his personality and becomes such a complex study that is so rare in a supporting character. And Schrieber's portrayal is brilliant and both comedic and heart-breaking in it's subtle profundity. Schreiber has been on my radar since I saw him in RKO 281 brilliantly portraying one of my personal heroes, Orson Welles, and after viewing this performance I plan to seek out more of his work.

The Daytrippers has been an independent film darling for years now and I can see why. It is an intelligent, emotional and well-written and acted film that will hold an appeal for most who take the time to view it.

--Shelly