The Family Tree (2011)

A mother and wife stricken with memory loss allows a dysfunctional family a second chance at harmony and happiness.

Director:

Vivi Friedman

Writer:

Mark Lisson

Stars:

Rachael Leigh Cook, Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Rachel Levy
Hope Davis	...	Bunnie Burnett
Dermot Mulroney	...	Jack Burnett
Max Thieriot	...	Eric Burnett
Britt Robertson	...	Kelly Burnett
Christopher Bradley	...	Bobby Overmier
Chi McBride	...	Simon Krebs
Christina Hendricks	...	Alicia Bouche
Gabrielle Anwar	...	Nina Fouts
Keith Carradine	...	Reverend Diggs
Newell Alexander	...	Dr. Lieberman
Evan Ross	...	Josh Krebs
Mac Brandt	...	Young Police Officer
Jermaine Williams	...	Trey
Shad Moss	...	T-Boy (as Shad Moss a/k/a Bow Wow)

Storyline

The Burnetts are dysfunctional. Jack and Bunnie barely speak, he fantasizes about women at work, she's having an affair with a neighbor and possibly others. Daughter Kelly is foul-mouthed; their son Eric is a militant Christian and an excellent shot. Bunnie's rich mom tries to control things. While a dead peeping Tom hangs undiscovered in a tree outside their bedroom window, Bunnie sustains a head injury and wakes up unable to remember anything after the first days of their marriage. Her newlywed sweetness infuses the family as Jack sorts through issues at work, Eric discovers flaws in his Christian posse, and Kelly makes friends with a lesbian classmate. Can this change of personality last?

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Plot Keywords:

lesbian | peeping tom | neighbor | memory loss | dysfunctional family | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, pervasive language, drug use and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Australia USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Driving Lessons

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,658, 28 August 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,658, 28 August 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Driving Lessons

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Ms. Delbo is discussing Benedict Arnold the misspelled word "suprise" is written on the blackboard behind her in two shots but in the the third shot the spelling has been hastily and sloppily corrected.

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Soundtracks

STFU
Written by Kari Kimmel, Joe Corcoran and Fiona Brawley
Performed by Kari Kimmel

User Reviews

Great little dark comedy

This movie is a pleasant surprise, with a great cast and a "Twin Peaks" sense of weirdness underneath the veneer of suburbia. Hope Davis is a bored, bitchy housewife who pours her energy into fund raisers for ridiculous causes and a kinky affair with her neighbor. Her daughter is the school slut, her son is a mixed up Jesus freak misfit with an unexpected gift for target shooting and her husband, Dermot Mulroney, is in a dead end job trying to please a boss he hates. It all turns into a crazy do-over when wifey hits her head during one of her sexual escapades and wakes up with amnesia. Gang bangers, a football star literally caught with his pants down and a dope smoking priest (played to the hilt by Keith Carradine)all figure in to a madcap climax. "Family Tree" is a gem, don't miss it.