The Meyerowitz family is fractured. Danny (Adam Sandler) is a self-described ‘extremely good parker’ with little else on the horizon. A loving dad and devoted house husband, his life is in transition now that he and his wife are separating and his only daughter is off to college. Moving in with his estranged father Harold (Dustin Hoffman) seems like an opportunity to get to know him, except it turns out that feeling’s not mutual.
Harold abandoned Danny and daughter Jean (Elizabeth Marvel) in favour of a new family when they were quite young. He’s never acted as a real father to them and even now he’s mostly only interested in what they can do for him. Not to mention the complicating factor of his alcoholic wife Maureen (Emma Thompson) who inserts herself into cramped dynamics like she’s determined to put the Wicked back into Step Mother. Both throw out the red carpet when favoured son Matthew (Ben Stiller) makes a reluctant appearance. Harold has fostered a competitive streak between his children by different mothers but they otherwise aren’t close. So when their father’s life and career necessitate them pulling together, it’s a little awkward. Actually, it’s extremely awkward and kind of heart breaking. Because they aren’t bad people, they’ve just been starved of their father’s love and have no idea how to act like a family now that there’s no real chance that things will ever be different.
This being a Noah Baumbach work, the comedy isn’t broad, but it is damn funny. When I finished it (a Netflix original) I immediately wanted to restart it, just to catch all the amazing little asides and offhand jokes that are so casually but expertly tossed out.
Although Harold is a self-absorbed contrarian, he’s not quite despicable in the hands of Dustin Hoffman and his grizzled white beard. Adam Sandler gives a nuanced performance that’ll make you believe in him as an actor once again – and it’s been a good long while since that’s been true. Actually, there are loads of big names, some in pretty small roles, but everyone is kind of spectacular in this. Having recently had no patience for Golden Exits at the New Hampshire Film Festival, I wondered if the our film lexicon was finally full to bursting with movies about privileged white people whining about their lives. But the family dysfunction in The Meyerowitz Stories feels relatable and authentic and the characters are trying too hard to be decent people in the face of it all: I kind of loved it. It’s amazing how many years later childhood resentments and jealousies can bubble to the surface, but this is the kind of movie that makes us all feel “Same” in one way or another, and it just feels good and cathartic that we aren’t alone.
Looks like a good one!
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Have you seen “It” yet?
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I have not! I am not one for scary movies and I don’t think I’ll be starting with this one…maybe Matt?
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I’ve been wanting to watch this one!
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I’m actually really looking forward to seeing this one. It’s been a while since I saw something with Hoffman!
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It’s great to see Dustin Hoffman make an appearance again. Always love his work. Am not a huge comedy fan, but as you are saying the comedy isn’t broad I moght check this one out. Thanks for sharing 😀
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A watchable Adam Sandler movie? Wow.
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He is a good actor, occasionally
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Great review, Jay. Looking forward to seeing it–now!
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I didn’t realize this was a Netflix movie. I definitely want to see it.
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This one sounds REALLY good with some meat in it!
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I was a bit worried when I saw Sandler’s name attached to the top of this review but I’m glad that he’s decided he wants to act for real again. I’ll have to add this to my ever growing queue.
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I was going to pass on this one, but it doesn’t sound half-bad.
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