Rated: R
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jack Black, John Turturro, Flora Cross
Director: Noah Baumbach

Synopsis: Margot Zeller (Kidman), a savagely bright, razor-tongued short-story writer, who creates chaos wherever she goes, sets off on a surprise journey to the wedding of her estranged and free-spirited, sister Pauline (Leigh). Margot, with her all-too-rapidly maturing son Claude in tow, arrives with the gale force of a hurricane. From the minute she meets Pauline's fiance--the unemployed artist Malcolm (Black)--Margot starts to plant seeds of doubt about the union.

As the wedding approaches, one complication crashes into the next: vengeful neighbors, a beloved tree in the backyard and Margot's own marital turmoil. The two sisters find themselves at the precipice of an unexpected transformation ultimately revealing that even when your family is about to implode the one thing you can cling to for solace and comfort is your imploding family.

DVD Features:

Margot at the Wedding is far from a feel-good production. Instead, it is a drama with pieces of dark humor spread throughout much of the first half of the film. As the viewer passes the half-way mark, the humor is whittled away by the cruelty of the characters.

It's hard to get through this film because there is no warmth to it, however, it is a fabulous character ensemble. Kidman, Black and Leigh all do wonderful jobs portraying characters no one really likes. The displayed bitterness, meanness and weakness are deliciously wicked. Families are a support system for most of us, but for others, they can tear you apart. No one knows how to destroy you better than those closest to you after all. No place like home...

The DVD features are not so impressive. I would have hoped for more than a conversation between Baumbach and Leigh for this film...perhaps more interviews with the other actors, more behind-the-scenes footage...etc.

Final Analysis: Even though Margot at the Wedding lacks warmth and feel-good antics, it still provides great character studies for anyone aspiring in the film or television industry. The reality is, not everyone has a happy ending or a loving family...

This Reviewer's Rating: 2.5 / 5

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."