Director: Shawn Levy

Starring: Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver & Rose Byrne

Running Time: 103 mins

Release date: 19 Sept, 2014

Worldwide Gross: N/A

 

 

 

 

Basic Plot:

 

Set around a group of five family members sitting shiva for their dead father and all of the drama of the family implodes in on itself.

 

Clock Watching? = 12/20

 

The film is completely contrived at every turn and never once feels authentic. The first half of the film is scene after scene of trying to get laughs out of “outrageous” moments, while the back half of the film is an attempt to have a heartfelt moment after heartfelt moment. None of these moments connect like they want though. There is way too much going on, among way too many characters and there is no time dedicated to fleshing out anyone or their relationships. In fact, all of the emotional scenes are basically exposition dumps which also keeps you at an arm’s length from connecting with these moments.

 

Oscar Performances? = 12/20

 

This is Where I Leave You is also full of an endless run of dull characters that leave a couple of really funny people with nothing to do in the film. Tina Fey gets nothing to work with and the character she plays is almost appalling to see her take on after so many strong and independent female characters. Corey Stoll plays the dull brother, and he is successful at being dull. I thought Rose Byrne was beyond playing thankless roles like this, but here she is, getting to play the weird girl who never left town. Connie Britton and Kathryn Hahn get a scene each, both completely wasted. Add Timothy Olyphant to the wasted pile as well. At least Ben Schwartz made me laugh a lot as an overzealous rabbi and Adam Driver finds plenty of laughs as well with his manic mode on most of the time. Jason Bateman is the film’s lead, and he gets plenty of solid Bateman moments for his fans, but I really couldn’t get behind his character’s plight. Plus, we really don’t need another sad white guy torn between multiple beautiful women with no idea what he is going to do with his life movie out there, do we?

 

Lights, Camera, Direction? = 8/20

Technically the film is unimpressive, in that it is adequate at every turn. Shawn Levy’s films never look bad, but there is rarely any flair or interesting shots either. This Is Where I Leave You is actually the most reserved looking of any of his films I have seen, so the low bar he had previously set wasn’t even cleared. Everything is so blah in this movie that I didn’t even notice or take note of the Michael Giacchino score, and he is probably my favorite active composer. Just too much blah going on here.

 

Tell a Friend? = 8/20

 

I wouldn’t really recommend this to anyone to seek out in the theater, but if it is on cable on a rainy day in three years I am sure it will hold your interest. Bateman fans will enjoy him.

 

Again? = 2/20

 

Would I watch this again, not actively, but if I was forced to sit and watch with a group I wouldn’t really complain, it’s mostly painless.

 

Total = 42%

 

This Is Where I Leave You is fine enough while you are watching it, I laughed, the film dragged, but upon reflection I don’t have many good things to say about it. A couple of the cast members turn in some solid comedic turns, but the film is overstuffed with characters and a script that never lets us get to know any of them. The cast seemed game, it’s a shame that there wasn’t a good movie for them to apply that too.

 

 

by Zac Oldenburg