The Meyerowitz Stories

A treat of a movie! Packs an emotional punch, laugh out loud funny at times but sad at every turn, a movie that strikes a realistic tone in the presentation of family conflicts. Reminded me a lot of Little Miss Sunshine. The ensemble cast was fantastic - Adam Sandler a revelation. Presented as a series of connected short stories focusing on different members of the family I was left very involved and wanting more. It's not often I finish a movie wishing they'd given us another half hour.

Keeping things low key from beginning to end, the story presents a realistic family dynamic that's subtly dysfunctional. The ridiculously star studded cast all offer up believable, understated performances, and it's easy to find the characters relatable. The film stays so true to life that it can occasionally get a bit dull. I'd say for the most part it hovers just above being boring, but I could see someone who's used to more fast paced fare consider it's dry delivery to be a tedious slog.

This film shows how Actor, Adam Sandler can play a dramatic role well (also/more so 'Uncut Gems'), Ben Stiller too, performs great through this film. This film touches upon the conflicts of many families, with siblings jealousy over 'the golden child', parents trying to be better then their own parent/s, and a fathers children trying to defend/ lie to themselves about his bad parenting behind his 'good' work that he put more effort into as they grew up. The film has a phew jokes to lighten the mood throughout the film and as any Sandler film would, and as said already, is quite realistic especially through the 'hospital scenes'. I would definitely recommend anyone to watch this film as it was well written, well directed and well performed.

It's a very good movie: story, atmosphere, characters, lines, actors of course. As I'm italian, I can't tell why. But you can read what wrote who liked it, and trust them. Or trust who didn't. But remember that we choose to like or unlike, so it's too easy (and childish) write things like "the worst", "two hours I'll never get back" or other stupid unoriginal but thinking to be original stuff. We have to dive into movies. They are an escape from serie, like healthy food. If you prefer fast or sugar food, you're welcome. But save your time from poisoning our water. We are swimming.

Ah yes, family dysfunctional. Everyone has it, and frankly its an over mined sub genre in film. With entries often pushing melodrama and character arcs to neat, organised catharsis, it has become as predictable as bad romantic comedies. Which is why i'm so happy to report that 'The Meyerowitz Stories' is one of the best dramedies I've seen all year! 

Told through various character perspectives in no real cinematic structure, there's a naturalism to the style. A humbleness that revels in subtleties rather than climatic overtures. And by god is it refreshing. There isn't a drop of pretension to be found in the film, no barriers between you and the characters, who are all lovingly played by an assured, veteran cast. 

Adam Sandler is a standout in what is already an outstanding ensemble. This is a performance quite different from what you might expect. It isn't a retread of Punch Drunk Love, or a dramatic overhaul of his past characters either. He instead lends a striking amount of humanity to Danny, which can be said of the entire cast. But Ben Stiller in particular deserves a shout out. I've never quite seen him pull off drama this straight faced and earnest before, and like most of the film, the sporadic dramatic beats are interspersed throughout his performance. 

Yeah i cant quite say enough nice things about 'The Meyerowitz Stories'. This was a joy to watch.So i'll just say this, if you love Wes Anderson films, in particular 'The Royal Tenenbaums' this is an easy recommend. And while it lacks the formalism and ridiculously cinematic glory of Anderson's style, there is far more humanity is Noah Baumbach straight faced approach. Meyerowitz Stories may not provide anything radically new, but it provides a great entry in the tired list of dysfunctional comedies, along with some of the year's best performances.