Everybody's Fine (2009)

A widower who realized his only connection to his family was through his wife sets off on an impromptu road trip to reunite with each of his grown children.

Director:

Kirk Jones

Writers:

Kirk Jones, Giuseppe Tornatore (original screenplay)

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Frank Goode
Drew Barrymore	...	Rosie
Kate Beckinsale	...	Amy
Sam Rockwell	...	Robert
Lucian Maisel	...	Jack
Damian Young	...	Jeff
James Frain	...	Tom
Melissa Leo	...	Colleen
Katherine Moennig	...	Jilly
Brendan Sexton III	...	Mugger
James Murtaugh	...	Dr. Ed
Austin Lysy	...	David
Chandler Frantz	...	Young David
Lily Mo Sheen	...	Young Amy (as Lily Sheen)
Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick	...	Young Robert

Storyline

Frank Goode lives by himself in Elmira, NY, a recent widower with heart trouble, retired from a factory job, proud of having pushed his adult children toward success. In the summer, all four kids bail on a reunion, so, against doctor's orders, Frank decides to surprise each with a visit. He sets out to see his artist son in New York City, his daughter the ad exec in Chicago, his son the conductor on tour and presently in Denver, and his daughter who's a performer in Vegas. None are as he imagines or hopes. Will they let him see themselves as they are, and can this dad adapt?

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Plot Keywords:

parental love | retirement | train ride | bus trip | surprise visit | 

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Taglines:

Frank's travelling light but carrying excess baggage (UK Quad)

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Licensor (worldwide)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 December 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Están todos bien

Filming Locations:

Skokie, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$21,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,852,068, 6 December 2009, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$8,855,646, 20 December 2009

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax, Radar Pictures, Hollywood Gang Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert De Niro played a widower in The Intern (2015), who made telephone books as a living.

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Goofs

Rosie changes her utensil-holding hand between childhood and adulthood, but this not unheard of.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Butcher: You Keeping busy?
Frank Goode: Yeah, I've been busy.
Butcher: Busy doin' what?
Frank Goode: Busy in the garden.
Butcher: [wryly] In the garden, you know what, you're missing work, that's what, I can see that.
Frank Goode: No I'm not missing work.
Butcher: Yeah, you miss the buzz and the jokes and the guys, I know that, don't tell me that's not true.

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Crazy Credits

The photographs Frank took during his journey are shown alongside the end credits.

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Connections

Featured in The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2010)

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Soundtracks

(I Want to) Come Home
Written and Performed by Paul McCartney
Courtesy of MPL Communications Ltd. / Inc.

User Reviews

Depressing family drama, filled with heartbreaking moments.Robert De Niro carries the movie

This is not your typical holiday movie nor at the end of the week- movie.Not everybody's fine.

The story revolves around a father(De Niro), who's wife has passed away, and his desire to reunite his four children for the holidays.Now, when he's alone, preparing the house for the upcoming holidays, all of his children cancel the holiday meeting with no explanation.The lonely man sets on a journey around the States to find his children and learn the truth as well as to reunite the family again.The truths, he finds, are more painful, than he could ever imagine.

The story is obvious at the beginning-but then the viewer begins to discover painful truths, the now-grown-kids are keeping away from their loving father.There are some very inventing and innovating twists, that are merely unpredictable.The story is told beautifully, with some poetry in it, which improves on Robert De Niro's brilliant acting.I would say, he deserves a higher praise, for what he has done, because i personally think, that Jeff Bridges wasn't better than him, with all my respect, of course.De Niro's outstanding performance carries the movie until the end.

As for the other cast, i wasn't that impressed.Kate Beckinsale and Drew Barrymore were at the same level of quality, but that just wasn't enough.Sam Rockwell was mediocre, definitely not good enough.I know they were supposed to be cold, but even coldness can be portrayed better than that.

The director did his best, which wasn't that much, considering the cast and script he had to work with.Every director should be able to pull it off, when he works with an amazing actors (again, mostly De Niro in that case), and a solid script.But as a whole, he did a good job.

I felt, that the tragedy was a little to much in the end, but things couldn't have been better revealed than this.It was depressing, but necessary to say the least.And again, i'm looking at De Niro with new eyes now, he touched me so deep.

The pain is deep sometimes.But you have to fight with it to keep your family united, and together, no matter the distance.The distance in your heart is, what really matters.And in the end Everybody's Fine.

My rate: 8.5/10