"'Baums' Away"
by Scott Mantz

"The Royal Tenenbaums"
Gene Hackman,
Anjelica Huston
Directed by Wes Anderson

Go, Speed Racer, go! Gene Hackman goes for a spin in "The Royal Tenenbaums"

Prologue

Ah, there's nothing like being home for the holidays! And what better way to spend time with the family than by going to the movies? At least that way, if you don't really like your family, then at least you can be in their company without actually having to say anything to anyone. In that sense, if it's true escapism that you're looking for, then steer clear from "The Royal Tenenbaums." After all, why bother going to a movie if you are going to be reminded of the very thing that you're trying to get away from? On the other hand, if you're a sophisticated moviegoer who likes to be challenged by complexity and dark comedy, then by all means, you are cordially invited to spend a couple of hours with "The Royal Tenenbaums."

Chapter One: The Plot

Meet the Tenenbaums, a family that took the "fun" out of dysfunction. For that, you can blame Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman), the self-absorbed and not-so-loving father who was thankfully given the boot years ago. As for his three messed-up child prodigies, adopted daughter Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright before she even had her first menstrual cycle, but she hasn't had a hit in years. Chas (Ben Stiller) was trading stocks while other kids his age were trading baseball cards, but these days he's too obsessed with the safety of his own kids. Finally, there's Richie (Luke Wilson), an ace tennis pro who suffered a horrific nervous breakdown on live TV. Just as they all moved home with their mother (Anjelica Huston) to deal with their respective issues, Royal shows up claiming to have just 6 weeks left to live. During that time, he wants his family back. The question is, will they let him in?

Chapter Two: What's Good

Wes Anderson is hardly a filmmaker for the masses, but he's clearly an eclectic and well-respected visionary with a firm grasp on his material. After getting the attention of intellectual moviegoers with the quirky "Bottle Rocket" (1996), Anderson made a spectacular follow up with "Rushmore" (1998), the story of an obnoxious overachiever who develops a crush on one of his teachers. With "The Royal Tenenbaums," Anderson goes from one overachiever to three, and the film's unique vision and timeless feel makes it hard to determine when it actually takes place (it could have been 20 years ago or 20 minutes ago). Anderson and co-writer Owen Wilson (who also co-stars) have crafted an intricate, witty, and sharp film that could easily have been adapted from the Great American Novel that was never written, but make no mistake. While there are some funny moments, the film is ultimately sad, dark, and deep, which brings me to...

Chapter Three: What's Bad

There's no doubt that "The Royal Tenenbaums" is an ambitious movie, but it's clearly too ambitious for its own good. It's also the kind of movie that you laugh at, but then ask yourself "waitaminute, what am I laughing at?" As it is, the laughs are few and far between, and the overall film feels about as dysfunctional as the family that it portrays. After a promising setup, the film over-reaches, loses its focus, and veers off course before finally wrapping everything up with a finale that seems to go on forever.

Chapter Four: The Acting

As Royal Tenenbaum, two-time Oscar-winner Gene Hackman seems to be having a blast by playing a character who's oblivious to the fact that he's such a schnook. Despite the fact that his priorities are screwed up, he honestly believes that he's doing the right thing, and you can't help but love him. Angelica Huston is particularly heartfelt as the jilted wife and mother who gets a second chance at love with her landlord (played with touching vulnerability by Danny Glover), while adopted daughter Gwyneth Paltrow spends most of her time brooding and chain-smoking like a chimney. Luke Wilson puts in his strongest performance to date as the emotionally fragile former tennis pro with a forbidden crush on his adopted sister, while Ben Stiller is the weakest link of the siblings by failing to bring home the few emotional moments he is given.

Epilogue

Ultimately, "The Royal Tenenbaums" is sophisticated and complex, but it's intellectual reach overshadows its emotional effectiveness. Then again, it just goes to show you that no matter how difficult family affairs can be, family is all you have. They will always be there for you, so in that sense, maybe looking at the Tenenbaums will make you feel better about your own family. Ok...so maybe not, but look at it this way: At least you'll always have someplace to go for the holidays.

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