Failing author, once famous but now can't even get published. Talented wife, who has to write and submit articles on the sly, so as to not upset his massive but fragile ego? Two sons, bouncing back and forth emotionally between the two "adults" even when everyone was in the same household, and then throw in the physical back-and-forth after the inevitable separation.
Ahhh, who to hate more?
The father, played by Jeff Daniels (ostensibly playing a future version of his Flap Horton character in Terms of Endearment)?
The older son, who strives to be an arrogant, miserable prick just like his dad?
The younger son, with his... well, I'll leave the joy of that discovery to you?
The mother (Laura Linney), who takes passive-aggressive to new heights? Not that she wasn't 100% justified in a few of her larger actions, but still.
So, are you sold yet?
OK, this is actually a worthwhile watch, though rather short and with a questionably abrupt ending. The actors were all excellent. Linney and Daniels are solid as usual, and the two kids were fantastic. It was the first major role for the younger one, Owen Kline, the son of Kevin Kine and Phobe Cates. Jesse Eisenberg's been working for a while, but I hadn't seen any of his movies. Well played.
Some excellent literary-nerd dialogue, a couple bone-chillingly awkward moments, a few belly laughs, a few cringes, some swearing at the television screen. Almost an aerobic workout.
3 stars.
