Starring Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver and Corey Stoll, “This Is Where I Leave You” is based on Jonathan Tropper’s book of the same name. Directed by Shawn Levy the movie is about a the realities of a dysfunctional family.

Premise: When their father passes away, four grown siblings, bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide-driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves. (Warner Bros)

Review: If you’ve seen the trailer, you basically know how the movie starts. The film only begins when the relatives are introduced, what happens before that is only a premise. As soon as one of the relatives appears on screen, you realize how crazy this family is. It sets the tone of the movie and puts a smile on your face.

It starts off as another funeral film but it’s a little more than just that, it quickly become about this family. No matter how crazy, loud mouth, no filter when they talked the Altmans felt genuine – at least to me because I saw me, my brothers and sisters in this movie and it was creepy. The film captured how families are, smartly added layers to all the characters, showing who they really are.

The amazing performances in this film are countless, the actors play off of each other, they are funny, touching, and authentic. They feel like a real family. Jane Fonda is just amazing. Fey’s role was right in her wheelhouse, she is good, but it was the same old spiel. Unlike Tina Fey, Jason Bateman did not fall back in the same…gimmick. He added something to the character, a little bit more substance, making Judd Altman more sympathetic. Adam Driver made the best of a bad situation, I mean he took a character that could have been annoying and a bit of a pain lovable and funny. 

The real surprise was Corey Stoll, I don’t mean it like “I didn’t know that guy had range.” but really he can act. He’s the quiet one in corner you don’t forget. He doesn’t have to say much for you to remember him. He has a powerful presence on film, he gave an amazing performance.

What did you think?