Review of The Daytrippers (1997) by Jack S — 28 Nov 2010

Adventureland was my favorite movie of 2009, so when I found out this 1996 flick which I had overlooked was the debut of writer/director Greg Mottola, I had to see it. Not at all disappointed! Yes, it feels like a "first film" in some regards, often seeming more like a collection of scenes than a cohesive whole. (A bit reminiscent of After Hours.) But those scenes are, with a couple of exceptions, uniformly good, and do build to a complete story when all is said and done. The script is very funny and the direction is pretty sharp; Mottola has an excellent ear for suburban families. (A '90s NYC apartment/rooftop party from the perspective of an out-of-place guest is also perfectly rendered.).

What's crazy is how much the world has changed in 15 years. As the family drives around, you might think it's 25 years ago. But the pre-cellphone/internet landscape was really that different. (A beautiful, lingering shot of the World Trade Center in the distance hammers home that it's a world we've lost.) Much of the film was shot near my office, and while certainly recognizable, the mood is just... different.

Nice performances. Liev Schreiber is well-cast as an overconfident, trying-too-hard snob who has some hard truths revealed to him. Young Parker Posey is a doll who gets to express some rage. Anne Meara is hilarious and so "true" as the Long Island mom. I initially was upset that Jerry Stiller wasn't cast as the dad but I don't think he has the gravitas to have pulled it off. Hope Davis exudes quiet dignity throughout. Strongly recommended.