"This is Where I Leave You" is not perfect, much like its characters. Its got moments that simply don't work, isn't without conventional things that we've all seen before, and it certainly isn't anything remarkable. However, that may be the reason why I enjoyed it so much. It's a story about and for regular people, and features characters that everyone can identity with. These are people that we've seen in our own families, with problems similar to the ones these characters are facing, and that's the beauty of this movie. Because of that alone, it reaches a level of charm that most big budget films can never touch. And despite its flaws, it surprised me.
It has a plot that's pretty self-explanatory: four siblings are forced to return to their childhood home after the death of their father and they attempt to work out their past and reconnect. Everybody is dealing with their own issues as well, some of them with marital problems and others with trying to grow up, and each finds comfort in each other. Some of my favorite scenes in the film consisted of the dynamic between Jason Bateman and Tina Fey, who discuss their worries on the roof until late at night.
Sincere moments like those seem to outweigh the more goofy, but be ready for a flawed film. It's rough around the edges, I want to stress that, but that's why it succeeds. By the end, it feels as if you've lived with these characters for years and you appreciate where they all end up going more than you may expect. Bateman manages to carry the film and deliver his best performance to date, proving he can play the everyman with a bit more finesse. And overall, it's something you'll appreciate because of its truth.
It has a plot that's pretty self-explanatory: four siblings are forced to return to their childhood home after the death of their father and they attempt to work out their past and reconnect. Everybody is dealing with their own issues as well, some of them with marital problems and others with trying to grow up, and each finds comfort in each other. Some of my favorite scenes in the film consisted of the dynamic between Jason Bateman and Tina Fey, who discuss their worries on the roof until late at night.
Sincere moments like those seem to outweigh the more goofy, but be ready for a flawed film. It's rough around the edges, I want to stress that, but that's why it succeeds. By the end, it feels as if you've lived with these characters for years and you appreciate where they all end up going more than you may expect. Bateman manages to carry the film and deliver his best performance to date, proving he can play the everyman with a bit more finesse. And overall, it's something you'll appreciate because of its truth.