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Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 0786936088090 Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC Label: Buena Vista Home Video Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Video Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: July 09, 2002 Running Time: 110 minutes Sales Rank: 18848 Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Theatrical Release Date: December 14, 2001
Amazon.com: In a fitting follow-up to Rushmore, writer-director Wes Anderson and cowriter-actor Owen Wilson have crafted another comedic masterwork that ripples with inventive, richly emotional substance. Because of the all-star cast, hilarious dialogue, and oddball characters existing in their own, wholly original universe, it's easy to miss the depth and complexity of Anderson's brand of comedy. Here, it revolves around Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman), the errant patriarch of a dysfunctional family of geniuses, including precocious playwright Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow), boyish financier and grieving widower Chas (Ben Stiller), and has-been tennis pro Richie (Luke Wilson). All were raised with supportive detachment by mother Etheline (Anjelica Huston), and all ache profoundly for a togetherness they never really had. The Tenenbaums reconcile somehow, but only after Anderson and Wilson (who costars as a loopy literary celebrity) put them through a compassionate series of quirky confrontations and rekindled affections. Not for every taste, but this is brilliant work from any perspective. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Pure Genius
True...it is a well known fact that, those who know of Wes Anderson, know that he is an "either-or" film maker. Plainly stated, you either love his work, or hate it. It is also known that Mr. Anderson's view of comedy is VERY dry...almost sarcastic and very realistic. (I mean, lets face it, there aren't that many Will Ferrels in everyday life) AND his use of this "stellar cast" in the film is almost a satire. He has the chance to use each talented member of the cast to the fullest, but chooses not to...almost to see how "realistic" each person can be...and how convincing each is to there own characters ... Read More
Rating: - Hated it.
I get it. It's trying to be a deadpan, quirky movie about a dysfunctional family. It just isn't NEARLY as good as the pretentious people out there would have you believe. Arrested Development does the same thing but with WAY more interesting characters and humour that never misses the mark.
Rating: - the royal tenenbaums
I think that Wes Anderson has done a wonderful job directing this film. Initially upon the first viewing I wasn't a hundred percent in love with the movie, however this is the type of film that should be viewed more than once. Every time you watch it you learn something or catch some joke that you didn't notice before. This film does not use the typically blatant humor instead it is rye and witty in a sort of dark way. I think the manner in which the story is narrated and delivered is great not to mention the characters as well. This movie rejects the nuclear family and actually shows a family so dysfunctional ... Read More
Rating: - Entertaining but flawed and somehow superficial
After gaining attention with his quirky early films BOTTLE ROCKET and RUSHMORE, writer and director Wes Anderson was able to bring together a wide Hollywood cast for his ambitious 2001 effort THE ROYAL TENNEBAUMS. As the movie opens, we are shown the rise of the three children of the Tannebaum family, prodigies who excel in business, sports and literature respectively. The upbringing of these little geniuses is left to their mother Etheline (Angelica Huston) after their father Royal (Gene Hackman) leaves the family. We flashforward to the present day, where the family has fallen from glory. Chas Tennenbaum (Ben ... Read More
Rating: - best movie, ever
With Wes Anderson movies, most people either love or hate the films. I think it's either you get it or you don't. With the Tenenbaums, I absolutely loved every second of the film from the first time I saw it in the theater in 2001. Gene Hackman is perfectly cast as Royal with his sometimes careless comments to his children during flashbacks, but his funny little sayings, "You're true blue Ethel," makes him almost hard to hate. Ben Stiller (Chas) is perfect as his crazy perfectionist character. There are too many story lines to explain and too many side stories, but over all, it's amazing, funny, and not boring ... Read More
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