Review of The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) by Robert F — 25 Mar 2012

Wes Anderson follows up his terrific Rushmore with this pretty-good feature. Gene Hackman plays a man who feigns terminal illness in an attempt to reestablish a bond with his dysfunctional family. His children, who were all eccentric genuises when they were young, are a bit too scarred and resentful to take his claims seriously.

I found The Royal Tennenbaums to be a bit too dry and clever for its own good, but for the most part I enjoyed its witty script and talented cast. The film is something of a mess, but it's a mess that is worth watching at least once.