It Runs in the Family

It Runs in the Family
by Fred Schepisi

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DVD Reviews of It Runs in the Family

DVD Review: An Engaging Story With No Conclusion
Summary: 4 Stars

The movie basically portrays the family life (or lack thereof) and problems of a NY household dominated by Mitchell, who founded the law firm where Alex now works. Mitchell is frustrated by a speech impediment and some physical inabilites that are the lingering results of a stroke; his son and grandsons all bear the unspoken burden of living up to his achievements (after all, IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY). Meanwhile, Rebecca and Evelyn act as the calming influences attempting to maintain the normalcy of family relationships. However, several incidents collectively threaten the family's stabilty. Among these: Asher is selling pot and failing his senior year at college, Alex gets propositioned by an assistant in the soup kitchen where he volunteers, and Eli is totally noncommunicative with his parents to the point wheres the chooses to use an Excel spreadsheet to request an increase in his allowance. (Yes, there is some humor and a few really hilarious moments in the film.) These incidents eventuallly combine with the deaths of two members of their extended family to create a considerable degree of tension and the need to initiate the type of communication that has been lacking in their relationships.

This movie tells a very complex story with the diverse threads of the family members' individual needs for achievement, love and power (control) interwoven with grief and the difficulties of dealing with the transitions through the various stages of life - whether growing up, adulthood or old age. It is openly emotional, not in the sense of pulling on your heartstrings but in exploring the emotions created in others by the actions of the characters involved. While there is enough humor to lesson the tension on occasion, the emotion in many of the scenes is so intense that you become completely involved with the characters.

The upside of this film is paradoxically the downside, it is too complex and too much a mirror of life to reach any conclusion. The only stories that have ended are those of the two characters that have died. This is not a movie that ties up any of the loose ends, although it does provide a few glimmers of hope. This is a well acted and directed slice of life, so it is recommended if you like that sort of film. But I only rated it four stars because it does not achieve my five star criteria of wanting to view it multiple times, two would be my absolute limit. (In comparison to the five star recommendation of MOONLIGHT MILE -... - which dealt with the themes of death, family dysfunction and noncommunication in a much more uplifting way, much more frequent humor, and with a wonderful Hollywood ending.) So, as repeatedly articulated by Eli in response to any question that he is asked, "whatever" (you prefer you can read into the ending and the message of this movie).

Description of It Runs in the Family