This Is Where I Leave You

The problem is the characters are either idiots or unlikable snobs — and the actors don't really do anything to make them likable despite their apparent lousiness. The film also makes the mistake of trying to make you sympathise with the characters despite their overall horribleness. And when you have a movie filled with unlikable people in a rather boring setup, it becomes rather problematic to keep your interest levels up.

Any good family drama has a well-worn balance of measured ups and downs. Adaptation or not, it can't bore you too much. This Is Where... seems confused about which side of the fence it wants to be.

In short, almost everything that can go wonky with a family goes wonky and the seams that hold them together are severely tested. Given the talented star cast, the film could have tapped more of an emotional vein, which is the essence of the story - the interplay of complex emotions in a family awkwardly lumped together for seven days. Sometimes sappy and sometimes over-the-top, it is mostly enjoyable.

This Is Where I Leave You deals with a family and death. That is a topic that makes for somber watching. There are points though, where you will have a smirk on your face. In certain places you will feel for the characters and then in a moment, the connection is lost. Tina Fey and Jane Fonda are a treat to watch. Jason Bateman does his best as the man who is trying to reconcile with his loss and the state of his life. In the end, the movie makes you feel something. However, that feeling is rare and that's the pity. In the end, it's just another formulaic comedy-drama.