Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Adam Sandler | ... | Danny | |
Grace Van Patten | ... | Eliza | |
Dustin Hoffman | ... | Harold | |
Elizabeth Marvel | ... | Jean | |
Emma Thompson | ... | Maureen | |
Danny Flaherty | ... | Marcus | |
Adam David Thompson | ... | Brian | |
Ronald Peet | ... | James (as Ronald Alexander Peet) | |
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Hannah Mitchell | ... | MOMA Employee |
Judd Hirsch | ... | L.J. Shapiro | |
Rebecca Miller | ... | Loretta | |
Sigourney Weaver | ... | Sigourney Weaver | |
David Cromer | ... | Glenn Twitchell | |
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James Hamilton | ... | MOMA Guest |
Josh Hamilton | ... | Loretta's Friend |
An estranged family gathers together in New York City for an event celebrating the artistic work of their father.
If you wanted a Noah Baumbach film you've got it in this dual coast pedantic film. It's an enjoyable sleeper. This film could've used a touch of Wes Anderson magic. I get the mixed reaction of the audience, its definitely not for everyone. I couldn't imagine trying to sit through this film being under say 38 or not having lived in New York or a New York like city.
I commend Netflix for investing on non traditional Indie movies and taking chances. They seem to cater their work projects to the young, old, and in this case in between age. There are quite a few good New York conceit movies in recent years, this is no Royal Tennenbaums, I Heart Huckabees, Squid And The Whale, New York Stories, and its not quite as good as say Listen Up Phillip. Much like Noah Baumbach's previous film Mistress America, this took more of an Art House approach.
A huge manic performance by Dustin Hoffman and there is a lot of the more sedated Adam Sandler screen time. Adam Sandler's character is so depressing to watch, and well acted, you hope to get one happy moment out of his character in contrast to his Manic father. Is Maureen really played by Emma Watson? She played the strange role of Sandler's charcter StepMonster well. Another mentionable actor was Judd Hirsch as an egotistical artist and friend of the family Patriarch. Perhaps Ben Stiller was another outstanding actor, but he played the usual role. There are some great moments in this shallow New York dysfunctional family. There's the most unusual StepMonster that I've ever seen in a cosmopolitan movie, she's like Gena Rowlands out of a Cassavettes film. The film asks some bigger questions about life and family through some one-sided characters. I'm tempted to summarize this as The Squid And The Whale thirty-three years later. This film has its own merits and its lowbrow art house feel. Some great actors and an unusual and entertaining script.