The Royal Tenenbaums

In a fitting follow-up to Rushmore, writer-director Wes Anderson and cowriter-actor Owen Wilson have crafted another comedic masterwork that ripples with inventive, richly emotional substance. Because of the all-star cast, hilarious dialogue, and oddball characters existing in their own, wholly original universe, it's easy to miss the depth and complexity of Anderson's brand of comedy. Here, it revolves around Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman), the errant patriarch of a dysfunctional family of geniuses, including precocious playwright Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow), boyish financier and grieving widower Chas (Ben Stiller), and has-been tennis pro Richie (Luke Wilson). All were raised with supportive detachment by mother Etheline (Anjelica Huston), and all ache profoundly for a togetherness they never really had. The Tenenbaums reconcile somehow, but only after Anderson and Wilson (who costars as a loopy literary celebrity) put them through a compassionate series of quirky confrontations and rekindled affections. Not for every taste, but this is brilliant work from any perspective. --Jeff Shannon

Theatrical International release dates:
Europe: Mar 15, 02
Japan: Sep 7, 02
Australia: Mar 14, 02

Movie Details

Cast: Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Danny Glover, Seymour Cassel, Kumar Pallana, Alec Baldwin, Grant Rosenmeyer, Jonah Meyerson, Aram Aslanian-Persico, Irene Gorovaia, Amedeo Turturro, Stephen Lea Sheppard, James Fitzgerald, Larry Pine, Don McKinnon, Frank Wood, Al Thompson, Jennifer Wachtell, Donal Lardner Ward
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 110 min
DVD Aspect Ratios: 2.35:1

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DVD Features:

With the Filmmaker: Portraits by Albert Maysles, featuring Wes Anderson

Exclusive video interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, and Danny Glover

Outtakes

The Peter Bradley Show, featuring interviews with additional cast members

The Art of the Movie: Young Richie's murals and paintings, still photographs by set photographer James Hamilton, book and magazine covers, Studio 360 radio segment on painter Miguel Calderón, and storyboards

International rating:

Europe: 15
Australia: M

DVD International release dates:
North America: Jul 9, 02
Europe: Dec 2, 02