Today’s quick review: The Royal Tenenbaums. Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman), the estranged father of Chas (Ben Stiller), Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow), and Richie (Luke Wilson), returns home when his wife Etheline (Anjelica Huston) considers getting remarried. While Royal attempts to make amends for a lifetime of bad parenting, the rest of his family work through their own lingering issues.
The Royal Tenenbaums is a quirky comedy from director Wes Anderson. The Royal Tenenbaums features an interesting ensemble cast, a character-driven story, and the meticulous, stylized direction Wes Anderson is known for. The humor is tucked away in awkward moments and idiosyncrasies, a dry style of humor that rewards close attention from the viewer. The film makes excellent use of its soundtrack, a light but sentimental collection of familiar songs.
The Royal Tenenbaums is a surprisingly touching film. The Tenenbaums begin the story as cardboard cutouts, detached characters with eclectic and seemingly meaningless backstories. But as the film goes on, more of their character is revealed through conversations, recollections of the past, and the crises they face as a family. By the end of the film, they manage to make the leap from cerebrally interesting to emotionally engaging.
Beyond the Tenenbaums themselves, The Royal Tenenbaums is a well-crafted movie. The main cast is joined by Owen Wilson, Danny Glover, and Bill Murray in supporting roles. The plot is more character-driven than event-driven, but the subplots interact well with each other, and a few defining events help give the film a sense of momentum. The direction is top-notch, showcasing Wes Anderson’s penchant for symmetry, focused presentation, and tight writing.
Watch The Royal Tenenbaums if you are a fan of Wes Anderson’s other work or you are willing to take a chance on an unconventional movie. Its dry humor, mature themes, and peculiar style restrict the film’s appeal, but its smart writing, well-drawn characters, and curious style are more than enough to reward a patient viewer. Skip it if you are looking for an unadulterated comedy, admirable characters, or a linear plot.
7.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for gorgeous presentation and surprisingly moving characters.