Review of The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017) by Wayne K — 12 Nov 2017

Proving that when Adam Sandler dials down his obnoxious, man-child psychopath shtick he can be a very watchable and even powerful actor, The Meyerowitz Stories finds him among a trio of children leant on and neglected in one way or another by grumpy patriarch Dustin Hoffman.

The family dynamic is both hilarious and thoroughly believable, with bickering between siblings, step-parents and children that feels authentic and helps us understand what the characters are going through.

All the actors are on top form, as is the screenwriting. It can go on a little at times, and there's a fair amount of dialogue you have to endure, but it never goes for easy sentiment and always earns its emotional moments.

The structure allows us to explore the family from various angles and perspectives and doesn't just feel like a cheap chaptering gimmick. Noah Baumbach offers excellent, humanistic observations into topics such as mortality, familial love, failure, disappointment and respect.

The later parts run a little low on steam but nevertheless bring the film to a satisfying conclusion. Anyone who ever wrote Sandler off as an unfunny irritant, a conclusion that is not without merit, should see The Meyerowitz Stories, and witness what he, and the rest of the cast, can do with a terrific screenplay and confident direction.