THE DARJEELING LIMITED

"He's checking his ex-girlfriend's messages"

After the sudden death of their father a year earlier, eldest brother Francis (Wilson) invites his two younger brothers Peter (Brody) and Jack (Schwartzman) to India for a spiritual journey to rediscover themselves and their relationship as brothers. With Jack just having broken up with his girlfriend, Peter panicking about becoming a father and Francis himself recovering from a motorcycle crash, the trio board the Darjeeling Ltd train and set out on a life changing journey.

Wes Anderson has become a cult writer/director with fans simply adoring his movies while the rest of the world just don't get why but can 'The Darjeeling Limited' bring him a broader ranger of admirers?

With 'Bottle Rocket', 'Rushmore', 'The Royal Tenenbaums' and 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou' already gathering him a legion of adoring fans, Wes Anderson has never really broken into the mainstream. Despite critical acclaim and the ability to gather together a marvellous ensemble for every film he produces, only 'The Royal Tenenbaums' has really set the box office alight. This doesn't matter however because filmmakers like Wes Anderson personify what cinema is all about, creativity.

All of Anderson's movies have a family oriented theme running through them and 'The Darjeeling Ltd' is no different. Here we have a tale of three estranged brothers, driven apart after the sudden death of their father with each of them having a different reaction to his demise. Jack ran away to Europe to sort out his head, only to have his girl friend track him down in Paris (This is shown in the short film 'Hotel Chevalier' with Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman, that is shown as a prelude to the movie for the UK and European release). Peter became obsessed with hording all of his father's belonging and wearing his clothes and Francis throw himself into his business and the relentless task of finding their estranged mother. The three are then brought together by Francis for a trip of enlightenment and bonding on a train journey through India but things don't exactly go to plan.

Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson return to the Anderson fold with Adrien Brody joining the pair to play brothers Jack, Francis and Peter. While, as with most Anderson characterisations, each of them bring a certain distance from the viewer, the chemistry between the three is undeniable. As usual Anderson's, along with co-writers Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman, is slightly kooky and surreal but the performances of the three leads make you continually smile throughout. The support is also good, with cameo appearances from Anderson favourites Angelica Huston and Bill Murray and great turn from up and coming actress Amara Karan as Rita, the object of Jack's affections on the train.

Beautifully shot, expertly played but undeniably strange and off beat, Anderson delivers another movie that will only appeal to fans of this style and sense of humour. While many audience members won't simply get what he is trying to achieve, fans will reveal in another off the wall family adventure and the great characters that inhabit his strange worlds.