This is Where I Leave You: Movie Review
Director Shawn Levy is best known for helming the blockbuster “Night at the Museum” films. This time around, the filmmaker has decided to adapt Jonathan Tropper’s best-selling novel for his latest project. Unfortunately the “This is Where I Leave You” feels as formulaic and uninspired as his previous work, but that doesn’t mean the film is a loss. Fortunately, the impressive cast is able to take the sitcom-like writing and do their best with the weak material they are given. The cast is so good, that they alone make the film worth watching.
When their father passes away, Judd (Jason Bateman) Wendy (Tina Fey), Philip (Adam Driver), and Paul (Corey Stoll) come back home and honor their father’s final request to sit shiva for seven days with their mother Hillary (Jane Fonda). The siblings have not seen each other for years, having gone their separate ways. Although they are saddened by the loss of their father, each family member is harboring other troubles in their lives.
Judd caught his wife having an affair with his boss (Dax Shepard). Wendy is not only frustrated with her husband, but also still loves her high school boyfriend (Timothy Olyphant). She also harbors tremendous guilt for leaving him during a tragic time in his life. Paul is stressed over not being able to get his wife (Kathryn Hahn) pregnant. Lastly Philip seems happy but he is dating his former therapist who happens to be closer in age to his mother than him.
We know that before the film is over, each sibling is going to confront their issues and the family will grow closer because of it. That is where “This is Where I Leave You” suffers the most. Everything is tied up in a nice little bow and we are given an out-of-left-field twist at the end that feels forced and not the least bit believable.
Like I said before, the cast is great and the chemistry is there. I found myself laughing a handful of times and the characters are likable. I wouldn’t recommend rushing out to the theater for this one, but if you are home looking for something to watch on Netflix next year, you can do a lot worse.
By: Marc Ferman