Review of The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) by Jason J — 13 Mar 2011

A quirky movie about family dysfunction in that distinctly quirky style that only Wes Anderson can pull off. Gene Hackman and Anjelica Huston play the parents of a collection of child prodigies, all estranged from one another and all reunited for a common cause. The fun, as with most Anderson movies, is in watching the talented cast of actors create eccentric, troubled characters that the actors and the script clearly adore. The film pokes fun of its characters, but it laughs with them instead of at them, which is a crucial difference that makes Anderson's movies glow with humanity and warmth and separates them from mean-spirited movies about human oddities churned out by filmmakers like the Coen Brothers.

Nothing will ever make me forget the hilarious image of Ben Stiller and his sons in matching track suits practicing fire drills.