THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS

Starring: Gene Hackman, Angelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Danny Glover, Owen Wilson and Bill Murray
Co-Writer/Director: Wes Anderson
Running Time: 110 mins
Certificate: 15

Out to buy on DVD December 2nd

There were three child prodigies in the Tenenbaum family. Chas Tenenbaum (Stiller) was a stock market genius by aged thirteen, Margot Tenenbaum (Paltrow) was a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright when she was fourteen and Richie Tenenbaum (Luke Wilson) was a tennis star ranked number two in the world at seventeen. Their journey into adulthood wasn't as littered with success however, and all of them blame the fall from greatness on the day their father, Royal Tenenbaum (Hackman) left. Twenty-two years later, all three have inventively moved back home with their mother Etheline (Huston) only to be visited by their father who tells them the news that he only has six weeks to live.

This is the quirkiest comedy you will see this year. As with his last movie Rushmore, writer/director Wes Anderson has created a cornucopia of memorable characters that come to together in an offbeat black comedy that you will either fall in love with or not get at all.

I love this kind of movie. It works on so many levels by combining both visual and spoken humour. You'll be watching two characters having an ordinary conversation but you will be laughing at the background decoration. Wes Anderson attention to detail in every one of the movie's frames is tantamount to his growing reputation as a must-see filmmaker.

The performances from the top-draw cast are first rate with Gene Hackman proving that he is an extremely gifted performer, whatever the genre. Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow and Luke Wilson as fabulous as the Tenenbaum children and co-writer Owen Wilson is very good as their best friend Eli Cash. The only disappointments are Angelica Huston and Bill Murray who, through no fault of their own, didn't really have enough screen time.

If you liked the quirkiness of Rushmore or Being John Malkovich, then this is the comedy for you. If not, I urge you to give it go anyway, you might discover a whole new level of humour.

Outtakes, Theatrical trailers, Audio commentary by director Wes Anderson, 'With the Filmmaker' portraits by Albert Maysles, Exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of cast, 'The Peter Bradley Show' featuring interviews with additional cast members, 'The Art of the Movie' still photographs, murals and paintings, a book and magazine covers, Collectable insert including Eric Anderson's drawings, Interactive menus and Scene access