This inside look at a dysfunctional and broken family is both unsettling but yet ultimately somewhat heart-warming. This movie is filmed like a dignified home video, and starts with one character, Kim (Anne Hathaway), being picked up from a drug rehab center and follows the family through the last few days leading up to Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt)’s wedding. The dynamics of the relationships between all of the characters are complex, but are communicated easily and naturally to the audience. The audience is able to feel the struggles between the characters to connect with them on an emotional level.
Overall, this movie does a very good job of leading the viewer through the complex inner-weavings of this family’s fabric, and ultimately ending on a warm note, reminding us that a family is a family no matter what; the bonds that hold them together are much stronger than the forces that pull them apart. Make sure to check out my other movie reviews!