This movie is based on a play of the same name, and there for drew a lot of comparison between the film adaptation and the stage play. The critics said mainly that it was a good attempt, but the premise does not work as a movie. They are just wrong, and they smell. I love this movie. There are many note worthy performances and actors within the movie, though most notable would be the woman on the box cover, Parker Posey with gun in hand.
Parker plays the slightly sadistic and incestuous twin sister Jackie-O (yes, she thinks she's the real one) who goes apes*!t when her brother surprises the "family" at Thanksgiving with his new fiance'. Oh yeah, and there's a major hurricane coming up the coast to boot. What ensues is dark but smart, and really funny. I really like the interactions and the quick dialogue. It definitely goes places other comedies wouldn't dare, but it stays extremely interesting from beginning to end. There are a lot of extremes between the dynamics of the characters, too. The mother is unbelievably cold and hates the very warm and feeling fiance', who is basically her antithesis (Tori Spelling). The brother Marty tries very hard to keep everything normal for his fiance', but his twin sister is a virtuoso when it comes to warping reality. The bleeding heart third child is then thrown into the mix, as he claims his love for the brother's new fiance.
The movie really made me step back and look at my own family's dynamics. Comparitively, mine's practically perfect, but not as funny.