The offbeat comedy Family makes a good effort, but things start getting a bit too chaotic with nonsense and silliness. The R is definitely needed, but the script for that appeal rating really misses the target for those who would watch this film. Toning down on the vulgarity could have opened the film to a PG-13 rating where the story really belonged.
Kate (Taylor Schilling) has had a growing year in her high profile job with an expanding company. Especially since she was able to jump all over the top salesperson to garner his accounts. With her new found leadership however, she stomps on everyone from her secretary to account coordinators showing her clout. It’s in her personality and those who have been kowtowing to her since she was put in control, have been feeling the insults and been taking heat for her missteps.
A phone call comes in one morning from her estranged brother Joe (Eric Edelstein) who needs a big favor. It seems Cheryl (Allison Tolman), his wife, needs to attend to her mother who lives out-of-town. Due to her grave illness Cheryl also needs Joe to help move mom to hospice and then straighten up the home for re-sale. That leaves their 15-year-old daughter Maddie (Bryn Vale) in need of someone to get her off to school the next day and Kate reluctantly agrees to the one night.
However, the next morning complications have set in and Joe and Cheryl cannot return for a few days. Now, you may have seen a few films with this situation, but in defense of writer and director Laura Steinel, the film does have a life for the big screen. What she does to make this script at least tolerable, is gather a nice cast in the starring role of Kate and niece Maddie. The chemistry between the two are as explosive as you would find any high flying executive dealing with a conflicted teen, and for that the film does entertain.
As the teen that has “bully me” written across the top of her forehead, Bryn Vale does a terrific job of depicting her coming of age character. With a mother that has had her under her thumb, she’s been at odds with bonding with her to help pull out the real Maddie inside. When her disgruntled aunt Kate comes along, she finds herself getting even deeper into her cocoon. But, as the butterfly starts to chip away at the chrysalis, things take a turn in an odd direction.
Taking on the role of the harrowed Aunt, Taylor Schilling puts on a show of comedy akin to that of her character Piper Chapman in the series “Orange is the New Black”. Showing a dominating personality and a surprise change in her nature as the film proceeds from one night to five, we are treated to enough chaos and emotion for two scripts of the ilk. That said however, Laura Steinel burdens her character with too many “oddball situations”. Often very dumb, it takes away from the momentum Schilling was building toward a more eloquent ending.
Family has been rated R by the MPAA for language, some sexual content and drug use. The language is profuse and vulgar at times and it’s not just from the adults. Actors playing teens are way off the chain at times and after a few volleys of expletives, it gets just plain abusive.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Not as good as it may have been if geared for PG-13. (2.5 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Taylor Schilling, Bryn Vale, Brian Tyree Henry, Jessie Ennis, Matt Walsh, Allison Tolman, Eric Edelstein, Kate McKinnon, Fabrizio Guido
Directed and written by: Laura Steinel
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: R for language, some sexual content and drug use (words like Pussy, shit, etc
Running Time: 1 hr. 25 min.
Opening Date: April 26, 2019
Distributed by: The Film Arcade
Released in: Standard
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
