Everybody's Fine (2009)

Director:

Kirk Jones

Writers:

Kirk Jones (writer)
Massimo De Rita (original screenplay) ...

Release Date:

4 December 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Frank wanted the holidays to be picture perfect. What he got was family.

Plot:

A widower who realized his only connection to his family was through his wife sets off on an impromptu road trip to reunite with each of his grown children. |

Plot Keywords:

Surprise Visit | Family Reunion | Foreign Language Adaptation | Grandfather Grandson Relationship | Family Relationships

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Frank Goode
Drew Barrymore	...	Rosie
Kate Beckinsale	...	Amy
Sam Rockwell	...	Robert
Lucian Maisel	...	Jack
Damian Young	...	Jeff
James Frain	...	Tom
Melissa Leo	...	Colleen
Katherine Moennig	...	Jilly
Brendan Sexton III	...	Mugger
James Murtaugh	...	Dr. Ed
Austin Lysy	...	David
Chandler Frantz	...	Young David
Lily Mo Sheen	...	Young Amy (as Lily Sheen)
Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick	...	Young Robert

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language.

Runtime:

USA:99 min

Country:

USA | Italy

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #39360) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Connecticut, USA

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

Sam Rockwell played the lover of Drew Barrymore in Charlie's Angels (2000) and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), and the ex-husband of Kate Beckinsale in Snow Angels (2007/I). Here, Rockwell, Beckinsale and Barrymore play siblings.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): A woman on the train says that Alice is the Greek word for "truth." In fact, it comes from a French word for "noble."

Movie Connections:

References Taxi Driver (1976)

Soundtrack:

(I Want To) Come Home

Everybody's Fine: The family that came unglued find a reason to stick together

Once the trailer hit the internet, I knew I was going to see this movie. Nostalgia, De Niro and Barrymore were the primary reasons. Of those reasons, Nostalgia and De Niro were most responsible for the big lump in my throat and regret that I had no Kleenex.

We go to movies to either escape reality or simply live in fantasy, don't we? I have to say, so much reality existed in this movie, escapism and fantasy seemed totally lost. The subtleties of everyday life can mean so much in retrospect. Every little thing that we do, no matter its importance, can come back and haunt us. That, surprisingly, is what makes this movie so real and endearing.

Nothing about Everybody's Fine is lacking if you can find yourself or someone you know in this movie. The beauty of it is, you will find someone you know. If you haven't tricked yourself into thinking this might be like Christmas Vacation or Planes, Trains and Automobiles, then I hope you can appreciate its evenly paced, nostalgia filled beauty.

De Niro has outdone himself with this simple heart-filled "grown family" film. I can truthfully say I liked him more in this than anything else he has done, although I also believe he probably didn't have to dig too deep into his soul to be Frank Goode. I will be surprised if he has not turned the heads and hearts of those who can nominate him for an Oscar. While all the characters were easy to relate to, this movie was more about Frank Goode's journey from state to state and through life.

Believe me, Everybody's Fine is more than just fine.

9/10 and one giant hug for everyone involved in making this beautiful film.