This is Where I Leave You, based on the novel by Jonathan Tropper

This is Where I Leave You, based on the novel by Jonathan Tropper

                This film has some highlights

                First: Jane Fonda

                Second: Jason Bateman and the rest of the cast

With the caveat that this viewer finds that, Tina Fey, in spite or because of her fulminant rise and reputation, is not that entertaining.

Maybe the story is ecstatic, the direction superb, the cast has been already established as stellar, but there is something missing

                Or simply wrong

                For this comedy-drama does not deliver.

About one hundred and fifty nine critics have not been pleased with the motion picture, if we consider the Metascore:

It is only 44 out of 100

The father dies and the family gets together for the final goodbye.

One is reminded of the much more complex, amusing, rewarding, intelligent, worthwhile chef d’oeuvre:

The Big Chill

In the better comedy, a group of friends gather together to mourn the departure of one of their dear soul mates.

With another stellar cast, the results are mesmerizing, glorious, ebullient, fascinating and sensational.

Alas, This Is Where I Leave You can stand for this is where the music stops and the team of actors does score.

There are some good moments- it is just hard to say where:

Maybe when mother Jane Fonda delivers an astonishing statement and a secret is shared with the stunned family?

Alternatively, when Philip Altman arrives at the cemetery very late, in a dazzling new fast car, a black Porsche?

Judd Altman aka the likeable Jason Bateman has in the first few scenes a revelation, as he brings home a birthday cake.

His wife has sex with his boss.

Is this funny?

Surely, the scene was meant to be.

Later on in the movie, boss, Judd and wife meet at the hospital where she might be having a baby.

The girl is Judd’s.

However, why are they so sure?

Without the DNA test?

Anyway, a group of sympathetic and positive (?) characters takes the other flashy car, that of the cheater, and damage it.

Wow, another humorous moment…

We wish…

It always a pity to see former Gods of cinema engage with films that flop, both in financial and intellectual terms.

Think Jack Nicholson in The bucket List, Robert de Niro in The Intern and alas, so many more, Al Pacino in almost anything he has done over a couple of decades…

One can only forgive this by thinking of a quote from a very clever insider, winner of Two Academy Awards, for Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men, William Goldman, in his tremendous work, Adventures in the Screen Trade…

“Nobody knows anything in Hollywood”