Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

The Royal Tenenbaums
2001
****
Director: Wes Anderson
Cast: Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Luke Wilson, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Danny Glover

Royal Tenenbaum left his wife and three brilliant children 22 years ago, but now he wants to be part of their lives again, primarily because he's penniless. Wes Anderson's follow-up to Rushmore is a whimsical comedy about an eccentric but dysfunctional family. It gets off to a shaky start, as we're introduced to a number of intentionally wacky characters, who rarely resemble actual human beings. However, the film gradually builds into a funny, original, and genuinely moving depiction of family ties.