Review of Margot at the Wedding (2007) by Jean B — 30 Nov 2008

This is a movie that makes you think because the story progresses in a way that places the viewer in the observer position to what seems like a random family's dysfunctional reunion between an older bossy sister (Kidman) and her kid sister (Jason-Leigh) who has always looked up to Big Sis and desperately seeks affirmation from her.

Jack Black is the loserish fiance (with his characteristic inappropriate sense of humor) that Kidman adamantly disapproves of. At the same time, Baumbach shows how incredibly flawed Margot is and how she can be a very poor judge of character.

While carrying on an illicit affair with a complete jerkwipe (Hinds), she decides on divorce with her very kind, loving husband (Turturro). Zane Pais did a decent job as Kidman's son, but he looked too skateboarderish to be completely convincing and Halley Feiffer, as Hinds's shifty daughter, disturbed me to no end.

All in all, this one is strictly for indie movie lovers or die-hard fans of Kidman, Jason-Leigh or Black.