Reviewer’s grade: B
You’re invited to attend the nuptials of Pauline and Malcolm (Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jack Black) at their seaside home in New York. Guests include Pauline’s sister (Nicole Kidman).
Reception to follow, filled with disaster, catastrophe and long-buried family secrets rearing their ugly heads. RSVP to this flawed but worthy dramedy from writer/director Noah Baumbach, who knows a thing or two about families falling apart (see “The Squid and the Whale”; in fact, see that over this if it comes to choosing one).
Kidman shuns her usual star luster to turn in an actual, non-showy performance, here as a not-so-doting mom who has communication issues with her child, her husband, her sister and even herself. You’ll laugh because it’s all so crazy “¦ unless her life is like yours, in which case a palm of Xanax would be in order. R
“?Rod Lott
This article appears in Dec 19-25, 2007.