I don’t know if it takes good acting to make a movie appear stupid, of if this was just a stupid movie, but I kept waiting and waiting for it to get better, and it didn’t.
Movies about dysfunctional families seem to catch the public’s eye. I don’t know if you would call this family dysfunctional, or unemotional, or what.
Gene Hackman, who is an excellent actor, portrays ROYAL TENENBAUM, father of two sons and one adopted daughter (the fact that she is adopted seems to be important to the plot of the movie). He is estranged from his wife, Etheline, portrayed by Angelica Huston. ROYAL is a bit of a con-artist and flake. He has lived in a hotel for 22 years. They finally throw him out after he fails to pay on his bill.
ROYAL has not had much to do with his family during the 22 years away, but since he has no place to live, he decides to tell his wife that he is dying in hopes of being able to move back into the house. Meanwhile, it seems that for one reason or another, the three siblings are also back living in the house. He has also decided that he wants a relationship with his children and grandchildren, and with the help of the houseman, proceeds to pull the wool over their eyes, and sets up his hospital room in the house.
No one in this dysfunctional family seems to have any emotions. Whatever happens seems to happen. Richie, the younger brother admits that he has been in love with his adopted sister, who is having an affair with their childhood best friend, (Eli) even though she is married. Eli, seems to have a drug problem. Chas has lost his wife and is trying to raise his two sons. He doesn’t want a relationship with his father. Etheline, in the meantime, is engaged to be married to Harry Sherman and ROYAL wants to win her back.
I must admit, there were a few funny scenes, but basically I found this movie very BORING. I have read other reviews in which they state that the acting was excellent and deserving of awards. I am not a movie critic and I find this hard to believe. Maybe, because I thought they were all idiots, their performances were excellent, but this is only my opinion.
CAST OF CHARACTERS;
ROYAL TENENBAUM, Gene Hackman. Father of the clan of geniuses. Uninvolved in the lives of his family, he suddenly wants to have a relationship.
ETHELINE TENENBAUM, Angelica Huston. Royal’s wife and mother of his children. She does her best to raise them without the help of Royal, while getting on with her life.
CHAS TENENBAUM, Ben Stiller. The real genius of the family. Made a fortune when he was a teenager. A widower with two children, UZI and ELI, he has no use for his father and tries to keep him away from his sons.
MARGOT TENENBAUM, Gwenyth Paltrow. Adopted as a very young girl by the Tenenbaums, she seems to be the most dysfunctional of all. Void of emotions, she goes through life having one affair after another. Her biggest sin seems to be that she smokes.
RICHIE TENENBAUM, Luke Wilson. A professional tennis player, he seems to have had a breakdown on the tennis court and wanders aimlessly around the world on ships, until he returns home when he hears the news his father is dying. He is the only one who seems to care about ROYAL.
ELI CASH, Owen Wilson. Childhood friend and neighbor of the Tenenbaum kids. He was once a good author, but is now drug addicted. He is having an affair with Margot.
HARRY SHERMAN, Danny Glover. An accountant and associate of Etheline, he has dated her for several years and asks her to marry him.
RALEIGH ST. CLAIR, Bill Murray. Margot’s husband. Their relationship also seems to be void of emotions. She leaves him to move back to her childhood home. He pursues her.
If this movie wins any awards, I’m liable to quit viewing movies. But then I also thought AMERICAN BEAUTY sucked, so what do I know?