The Royal Tenenbaums
reviewed by Benn "Where's the Humanity?" Farrell & Brian "The Naked Gun" Felts
"The Royal Tenenbaums" is a completely unmotivated look at a severely dysfunctional family and
its members, led by patriarch Royal Tenenbaum, played by two time Academy Award winner Gene Hackman.
Tenenbaum, after having been disowned by the family, decides to work his way back into their good
graces.
The picture appears to lose direction from may have been a story. It rides on the shoulders of its
well-developed characters, but not in a way it makes its audience care about what happens to them.
Hackman was incredible in the picture, as was Danny Glover who appears as his former wife's new suitor.
The only major scene between the two was littered with veteran acting experience.
However, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson and even Ben Stiller were a bore in this picture
as the Tenenbaum children (Owen's character was adopted in name, while Paltrow's was adopted on paper).
Obviously, their characters had a lot going on inside, but I simply couldn't bring myself to give a crap.
The only sub-plot I took an interest in was Luke Wilson as Richie Tenenbaum and his love for
adopted sister Margot Tenenbaum (Paltrow). Of course, the only bit of the movie I was enjoying
ended up going no where.
Overall, I have to give this picture a big shrug. Some may like it, I pretty much don't. There
were things that were interesting, but if Wes Anderson's style is what you enjoy than rent
"Bottle Rockets" and "Rushmore," which is hilarious. Leave "The Royal Tenenbaums on the shelf.
Benn - Where's the Humanity?
I have to disagree with Benn on this one. I found the movie to be quite entertaining as a
character driven movie, I do agree that Gene Hackman lead the cast and did a superior job.
I thought the children's characters were all acted over the top, but that was how they were
written so it is ok.
I did not enjoy Gwyneth Paltrow however. I found her to be frightfully boring every time she
was in a scene and would have like to have seen the part played by anybody else, probably Uma
Thurman.
I say see this movie. It is very entertaining and a acting tour de force by Hackman.
Brian - The Naked Gun
I will never be able to figure out why "The Royal Tenenbaums" nabbed an original screenplay
Academy Award nomination for Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson. Even being a fan of Wes Anderson's
work, I have to say this picture was feeble at best.