Noah Baumbach follows up The Squid and the Whale with another story of a dysfunctional family. Rather than a husband-wife relationship, the reunion of two estranged sisters (Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh) is the central focus. The occasion is the Leigh character’s impending marriage to a decent but unambitious, and unemployed, guy (Jack Black). Like the Jeff Daniels character in Squid, Kidman’s Margot is a magnificently self-absorbed New York writer given to rendering casually cutting remarks, some directed toward her teenage son, though she is capable of tenderness. Her disapproval, of her sister, and of the not-good enough fiancé especially, combined with forthrightness, creates much of the drama. Baumbach continues to have an incredible ability to incorporate the details, and flaws, of his characters in ways that make them seem truly individual. I should add that there is quite a bit of humor to the story as well, because these details are what make people funny.
Filmgoers who demand that characters be likeable, or at least not be dislikeable yet sympathetic, will want to steer clear of this movie, set and filmed largely on Long Island. Although there are enough differences that it doesn't seem like a mere rehash of Squid, I’d still give the edge to the earlier work, which, probably because it’s more from the point of view of the children, has a heartbreaking aspect that this doesn’t, although it is certainly sad at times. There are also more characters to deal with here, and only 90 minutes to dispense with them, which may weaken the impact.
IMDB link
reviewed 11/30/07
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