Review of This Is Where I Leave You (2014) by Gustavo B — 07 Nov 2014

One of my least favorites genres on film is family reunion because of a death in the family. The case of This is Where I Leave is that compare to most of the movies such as The Family Stone, August: Osage County, Medea's Family Reunion and Home for Holidays, this movie is not taking place during the holidays. Perhaps the film have an excuse for a jewish ritual for the death.

This is Where I Leave you tell the story of Judd (Jason Bateman) a radio station producer who the day of his wife Quinn's (Abigail Spencer) birthday discover that the host of Judd radio show Wade (Dax Shepard) is been having an affair with Quinn.

After a period of time pass Wendy (Tina Fey) Judd's sister, call him to give him the news of his father passing. Finally during the funeral Wendy and Judd reunites with mom Hillary and the other two brothers Paul (Corey Soll) and Phillip (Adam Driver).

The story of the film is a constant reminder of how messed up the family is. Hillary telling their kids how sexual amazing their father was, Judd constant ignoring his Quinn phone calls and telling lies bout Quinn's absence during the mourning time. Phillip childish attitude to life, dating older and younger women at the same time and pretentious way of living as well Paul desperate search for having a baby with his wife Annie and finally Wendy marriage falling apart for a inconsiderate husband.

The film depicts another ordinary film family with nothing groundbreaking about it. The film have funny moments but is flat and the story fades away at the end.