Review of The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) by Brandon W — 12 Aug 2010

Wes Anderson hones his style in this tale of the Tenenbaum family more specifically the Genius children of a rich successful lawyer Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman in one of his best roles in years). Chas (Ben Stiller, is there anything he can't do) is a genius in international finance who has sued his father successfully and after his wife's death becomes a control freak with his two kids.

The middle child is adopted daughter Margot (Gwyenth Paltrow oddly enough but she does a good job) a genius playwright who is married to a whacky neurologist played by Anderson favorite Bill Murray, the marriage like most of her relationships is strained by her introverted aloofness and the movie itself tries to read like one of her plays the five acts being divided with a page from her play's script on which what is about to happen is written if you pay attention.

Lastly is tennis star Richie (the surprisingly good Luke Wilson who should stick with Anderson) the favored child of the bunch who's become strung out in his life of stardom and excess and spirals into depression and darkness.

Supporting the motley crew are childhood friend of the kids Eli Cash (the always entertaining Owen Wilson)who's now a western writer strung out on mescaline having an affair with Margot, matriarch Etheline Tenenbaum (a shockingly normal Angelica Huston) who is now in a relationship with her accountant Henry (the fantastic Danny Glover whose banter with Hackman is one of the films highlights) and Royal's Indian manservant Pagoda.

The plot itself wants the complications and backstories of our interesting characters are defined is pretty simple Royal has cancer (Or does he??) and wants to reconnect with the family, the kids resist him at first, he forms a relationship with his grandkids, plot twist, he and his children reconcile at long last.

All to Anderson's unique deadpan camera style and a bizarre yet great soundtrack including The Ramones, Paul Simon, The Clash and Van Morrison. It's a truly heart warming film, one of Anderson's very best that will have you admitting whether it's being over protective, suicidal or addicted to mescaline you have a problem but your family will help you overcome in the end.