The Oranges (2011)

The enduring friendship between the Walling and Ostroff families is tested when Nina, the prodigal Ostroff daughter, returns home for the holidays after a five-year absence and enters into an affair with David, head of the Walling family.

Director:

Julian Farino

Writers:

Ian Helfer, Jay Reiss

Stars:

Leighton Meester, Hugh Laurie, Catherine Keener

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alia Shawkat	...	Vanessa
Hugh Laurie	...	David
Oliver Platt	...	Terry
Allison Janney	...	Cathy
Catherine Keener	...	Paige
Ian Helfer	...	Christmas Caroler
Marceline Hugot	...	Christmas Caroler
Laura Flanagan	...	Christmas Caroler
Curtis McClarin	...	Christmas Caroler
Jay Reiss	...	Christmas Caroler
Sarah Saltzberg	...	Christmas Caroler
Sam Rosen	...	Ethan
Leighton Meester	...	Nina
Adam Brody	...	Toby
Aya Cash	...	Maya

Storyline

In conservative West Orange, New Jersey, the Ostroff and Walling families are very close. David Walling and Terry Ostroff are inseparable best friends and run together everyday. David has problems with his wife, Paige. He frequently sleeps alone in his office. Their daughter, Vanessa, is frustrated because she has not succeeded in her career as a designer. Their son, Toby, is moving to China on a temporary assignment. Terry's wife, Cathy, ignores him. Their daughter Nina moved to San Francisco five years ago. Near Thanksgiving, Nina's boyfriend Ethan betrays her at his birthday party and Nina returns to her parents house. Nina argues with her mother and draws closer to David. Soon they have an affair and fall in love, turning the lives of the people close to them upside-down.

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Plot Keywords:

thanksgiving | restaurant | christmas lights | christmas carol | fired from the job | 

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Taglines:

Sex. Betrayal. Scandal. Make yourself at home.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language including sexual references, and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 October 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

La hija de mi mejor amigo

Filming Locations:

Yonkers, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$198,461, 7 October 2012, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$364,875, 28 October 2012

Company Credits

Production Co:

ATO Pictures, Olympus Pictures, Likely Story

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Leighton Meester (Nina) and Adam Brody (Toby) are married in real life.

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Goofs

When David and Nina kiss on the sofa, her hands go from being down by her side, then move up and hold his face when they begin to kiss. Cut to TV then cut back again; they are still kissing but her hands are still tucked down by her side

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Quotes

[First lines]
Vanessa: [narrating] The question of happiness has preoccupied philosophers, poets and pharmaceutical companies for thousands of years. Clearly, it's a tricky one.

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Connections

Referenced in Room (2015)

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Soundtracks

Gabrielle
Written by and performed by Charlotte Politte
Courtesy of Mar-Tune Music

User Reviews

What is happiness ...and what is it worth?

This movie isn't about adultery or male fantasies. To think that is to completely miss out on what the film is trying to say (and I feel it's dodging the questions that are silently asked throughout the movie: "What is happiness and what is it worth?")

While a previous review mentions the movie being about consequences, and there certainly is plenty of that showcased throughout the film, it's really about a group of people, family and close friends, who realize that they are all still searching for happiness after the imaginary suburbia happy fairy gets metaphorically hit by a truck.

By the end of the film, one may wonder whether various moment were that of selflessly sacrificing personal happiness in order for others, whom you also love, to have more of their own.

The casting simply could not have been any better for this film and, ironically, this picture marks the second time that Leighton Meester has played a character who has a thing for Hugh Laurie (House, MD).