The Royal Tenenbaums

Cynically brilliant

This is a movie of ecstatic sensibility. It's darkly funny, satirical, and brilliantly unsympathic. Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Luke Wilson are amazing, and the rest of the cast have their moments of stunning screen time. Family Dysfunction just doesn't get any better than this.

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Pagoda is pretty in pink and this movie is pretty amazing

Director Wes Anderson brings a refreshing, eccentric story to the silver screen with his quirky family the Tenenbaums. The movie is a timeline of family secrets, and grudges filled with the most outrageous and juicy storylines anyone would want to hear accompanied by an all-star cast. The main character Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) finds in his old age that he 20 years later wants to reconnect with his long lost family of excellence and brilliance. He then discovers that his wife is planning on getting married, thus creating a major problem. With his antics he pretends to be dieing as a way to get back into the family. This situation created plenty of comical moments that grabbed one’s attention. But beneath the lighter surface of the Tenenbaums as just a crazy family is a deeper story of loneliness felt by each of the Tenenbaums in their own tragic way. Richie, the ex-pro tennis player is in love with his adopted sister Margot and tries to commit suicide. The Royal Tenenbaums is a great movie about an oddball family who comes together in the strangest of ways. The Royal Tenenbaums is a modern classic that will make you laugh, cry, and then laugh again.

"It's been a rough year."

The above line is said by Chas, played by Ben Stiller. This is just one of the many deppressed and confused characters in this movie. The movie follows simple archtypes, we have a rich family broken after many years, we have child prodigies grown up and miserable, and we have confrontations between parents and children. What makes this movie great is its inventive thought, it is filled with layers of drama and comedy. Wes Anderson(Rushmore) directs and co-writes it with actor Owen Wilson, and together they have one powerful film. The movie is the most original and creative movie i've seen in a long time, it was only nominated for best screenplay at the oscars when it should have won best picture. The mainstream audience will not always get this movie because they asume it is a comedy, this is not true. The movie has times of comedy and times of drama, but it is not a single genre by its self. The movie has a top notch group of actors heading it, with Gene Hackman in a Golden Globe winning role. If you see this movie try not to think of it as a comedy, but as a type of movie of its self, it is an Anderson movie, nothing more, nothing less.

A wholesome film.

This film is amazing. I fell in love with the characters and the wounds that make them who they are. It illustrates a beautiful brokeness of a family who underneath all their woes continue to sustain their love for each other. The screenplay was absolutely flawless. It reconciles sweet sadness with just the right amount of humor. Unfortunately, however, only those who are philosophical enough can truly relish what this movie has to offer.

Flawless

I absolutely loved this film. Horrifying but comforting, I watch this movie at least one a week. My favorite scene is Ritchie's suicide scene...'I'm going to kill myself tomorrow' this scene spoke to me.

Royal and Reminiscent

This undeniably eccentric film, clever and cunning and occassionally unsettling, is one of my favorite pictures. Each time I view it, I encounter more and more similarities to the writings of J.D. Salinger. From Margot Tenenbaum's bath-tub cigarette smoking to her brother's attempted suicide, the details of the dysfunctional Tenenbaum family mirror those of Salinger's Glass family he wrote of in Nine Stories, Franny and Zooey, and Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters & Seymour, an Introduction. The quirky dynamics of humans afflicted with an abundance of intellect and a shortage of love leads to thought provoking interaction and observable introverted squalor. The visual aspects of the movie are also outstanding; vibrant colors contrast the underplayed expressions of the characters while the spacial appeal in the organization of each scene appears orderly, deliberate, and beautiful, stridently opposing the chaotic intertangling lives of these amazing individuals.

A Royal Movie

One of the smartest comedies to come out in the last few years, The Royal Tennenbaums takes its laughs not in lough out loud humor, but rather in the subtle and sometimes intentionally not-so- subtle characters, situations, and events that make up the movie. This movie sets a neurotic disfunctional, family under the microscope and proceeds to turn up the heat on them until they boil. I loved it. However, I must warn those who enjoy mindless comedy that this is, as my dad said, ''the best Woody Allen movie that wasn't a Woody Allen movie''.

Good stuff!

This movie was, indeed, an odd film, but it was wonderfully written and directed. Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson are geniouses. The Royal Tenenbaums had a fantastic life to it that many movies just don't have. I've seen it at least four times, and I love it more every time. Fantastic movie.

GREATNESS Is Not For Imbeciles

So there are two bad reviews here that you should consider: the first says the movie sucks because the jokes are subtle; the second one recommends the ''Thomas Crowne Affair''. Well, if you have a problem with intelligent humor, or if you think the TC Affair was anything but dreadful, then you might not want to watch this one. However, if you have half a brain, this is the best movie you'll see in quite some time. Brilliant acting, photography, direction, and story.

Must See Movie

I usually stick to regular comedy and classics. But this movie, I do say, is one of the better ones out there. Long, but worth every minute. The cast is incredible, beautiful, and talented. Many in new roles.

An Intellegent Laugh!

This is one of those movies that won't make you laugh repeatedly, but rather a movie whose humor is one that the ''average Joe'' wouldn't understand; however, it's hilarious to those who understand it.

Boring endless movie

The four of us went to the movies to see Oceans Eleven and it was sold out. I recommended to see this movie because I loved the movie previews for it. I have to tell you that I was never so embarrassed of recommending a movie. After about half way through the movie, people kept walking out because it sucked. We felt trapped watching a rotten movie that never ends. I got the jokes but they were subtle and boring. I was never so happy to see a movie end (when it finally did)!

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The Royal Tenenbaums!

THe first time I saw this movie my Dad had picked it out as a 'family' movie sort of thing and I thought it was going to be horrible. I usually don't like movies that are odd. But this movie is the best movie i have ever seen. It is so interesting and weird that it make you love it. Ben Stiller is hillarious. Gwenyth Paltrow was perfect for her part, and everyone else fitted in as well. This is a fabulous movie for not being as advertised.

You Have to Love the Tenembaums

This isn't your generic comedy movie. Its not a knee slapper that will make you fall out of your seat laughing, instead it will have you saying ''what the hell was that?'', thinking about the jokes for days and chuckling to yourself everytime you think about it. The story of a family of geniuses whos estranged father returnes to make amens, the all star cast does an excellent job of creating creative and complex characters. The sometimes strange plot is filled with unpredicted twists. Similar to the directors previous movie Rushmore only in the way it is filmed and the synical sense of humor, The Royal Tenembaums outdoes its predicesor and will make a lasting impression with the viewer.

Funny Movie

I had heard this movie was supposed to be hilarious and it sure was. The acting of all the actors involved was superb and so funny. The story was so engaging and interesting that it kept me riveted. What a great movie.

A Great Cynism to the Family Reunion

This is one of the film that i really liked about the natural of relationships with the family and also helped to be in touched with one another. The problem with what i think about other reviews is that they have to watch the movie over and over and over just to comprehend what the heck is going on . No offense but do not i repeat do not talk like this when your drinking coffee latte or walking through a bookstore filled with people who thinks differently. Probably they hate literature and wants action all the time (no offense to people who likes war movies, I also like war movies but i like films that are dark comedy or psychological thriller. This movie could give you a good moral and hilarious outpick. for example ''kids in red sweat jackets and windbreakers with white stripe pads to the side of the uniform running across the street where the cars are moving'' couldn't stop laughing about that for weeks. This movie will enjoy the hilarious out moments and how the family becomes aggressive with their relationship of how they break apart and forming into a whole again.

Abhor the ordinary? ... you will love this flick!

I can enjoy some mass appeal films, recent examples are Spider-Man and, surprisingly, Attack of the Clones, but generally prefer the unusual, especially dark humor. This movie is absolutely hilarious for anyone that can expand their mind beyond the tiny boxes that confine most people's. The Wilson brothers are truly impressive in writing and acting, while Paltrow in her elegant, understated, manner blows the viewer away. I was excited to see this in the theater, but I had no idea just what I was getting into. If you are ready to stretch your suspension of disbelief through some bizarre scenes and set of circumstances, you will get more than you bargained for with this excellent ode to the excentric. I rate films on their monetary worth, this movie is worth the price of admission, my highest rating.

NOT A MOVIE WORTH SEEING

If you want a view into a college psychology paper as to how people have not changed or carried baggage with them for 20 years, then see this movie. This movie was the worst movie I have ever seen. The acting by Hackman was the only relief. The intertwining stories were unrealistic and superficial. Do not watch this movie. (it is not worth your 2 hours)

Accidentally one of the best movies we ever watched

We wandered into this movie one evening when everything else at the multiplex was sold out and expected....well, it was pretty difficult to guess from the title what to expect. Maybe something British & snooty. Instead, we saw one of the all time funniest movies ever & hey, it even had a few meaningful moments. Confession: I cried at the end when I saw a certain tombstone. I can't wait for it to come out on video so everyone who missed it in the theaters gets a chance to enjoy it. Definite cult movie potential.

It doesn't get any better than this!!

Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson hit the spot every time. This movie is a must see. Ben Stiller is classic, and hello, Luke Wilson couldn't be any cuter in those tennis shorts. You have to see this movie.