Lawrence (Quaid) is a crotchety middle-aged university professor who has never gotten over the death of his wife. His self-absorbed life only barely allows space for his two brainy kids, university student James (Holmes) and high-achieving teen Vanessa (Page). When his loser brother (Church) arrives, Lawrence tries to get rid of him before realising that he needs him to chauffer him around following a physical injury. And while in hospital, he can't help but flirt with his young doctor (Parker), although he's forgotten that she was once his student.

Dysfunctional family comedies are always enjoyable, mainly because they make us feel like our own experiences perhaps aren't that bad. Here, it's thoroughly charming to watch Quaid as such an outrageous grump who has basically left his children to raise themselves. He, Page and Holmes make a terrific chaotic family unit, barely connecting on any level and yet recognisably believable. And Church as the mad uncle is the perfect storm-stirrer. More problematic is Parker's romantic interloper; she's just too distant to warm to.

There's also the problem of the by-the-numbers script, which sets up all sorts of conflicts that we know will be resolved one-by-one at the end, such as Lawrence's phobia about sitting in car passenger seats, his clinging to his wife's wardrobe, his ignorance of his children's lives and his relational bullheadedness. That said, Quaid plays all of this very nicely, and the filmmakers mercifully keep the tone dryly funny and emotionally low-key.

The film's true star is, of course, Church. And it's his hilarious interaction with the various characters that keeps us engaged. Despite being such a lose cannon, he's clearly the most mature person in the family, and the way he acts and reacts has a ring of truth that's lacking in some of the other relationships. Basically, the dumbest person in this smart family is the one who has the most to teach everyone. Not exactly an original idea, but entertaining while it lasts.

themes, language

3.Apr.08