The Royal Tenenbaums - Criterion Collection

Rating:
Summary: Promising, but way too self-impressed
Review: I loved Rushmore and was really excited to see this when it came out. Unfortunately, this movie recycles a lot of Rushmore's trappings but without nearly as much substance. The characters just don't add up to much beyond some superficial tics; Ben Stiller and Danny Glover especially are wasted in dull roles. Royal's fake illness was a promising start to the story, but it fizzles after that. The Gwyneth Paltrow/Luke Wilson love affair subplot seemed like a particularly self-conscious attempt to generate some plot momentum, but it too is unconvincing and goes nowhere. Wes Anderson seems way too impressed with his own abilities throughout the movie, giving us some nice-looking shots along with a lot of overdesigned, tricked-out ones that scream with pretension. Most annoying of all is the music. Where the music in Rushmore was used deftly to underscore moods and heighten emotion, The Royal Tenenbaums just beats you over the head with it. Anderson seems intent on cramming his favorite songs into every available minute, regardless of whatever's actually happening in each scene. It was like trying to watch a movie with a radio on in the same room. In short, a big letdown.

Rating:
Summary: To Each His Own
Review: ...
Personally, I think this is a brilliant, magical, touching film that merits several viewings.
...
But, hey, after all, isn't the importance of any film the one on one relationship it holds with it's viewer?

Rating:
Summary: A perfect satire
Review: I can not for the life of me think of a darker, more profanely honest comedy than The Royal Tenebaums. The cast was substantial and more than adequate to qualify this as the feel good movie of the year. I never dreamt in my wildest flight of fancy that I could laugh at puns about death, suicide, and infidelity. And though the Tenenbaums are Royal they definitely aren't flush with the usual cliches of this particular genre. I would see it again, for certainly it was full of ambiguities. But if you're a woman it would definitely be more enjoyable if you can get your date to pay for the rental. I've rented several movies and at least they give you lots to talk about after it's over. After all, you have to say something of interest as you puff your cigarette smoke into the darkness.

Rating:
Summary: Royal Tenenbaums=Royal letdown
Review: The Royal Tenenbaums was one of the Worst movies I have ever had the displeasure of watching! This movie took a great cast, and what could have been a good storyline, and ruined it by trying, way to hard, to be artsy!
I found the story depressed me, when it was supposed to be a comedy, I hate that! If you are in the mood for a great comedy, DON'T rent The Royal Tenenbaums, but if you are in the mood to be bored out of your mind and bummed out then this is the movie for you!

Rating:
Summary: check it out
Review: 4.5 stars. Very few movies can get 5 stars in my book, but this one is real close. Better than Rushmore, although it was great as well, and way better than Bottle Rocket. I don't know what some of these people are talking about who are giving it anything less than 4 stars. If you don't find this movie funny and entertaining, you just can't appreciate a good all around movie. Grat directing, acting, editing, music--everything. These people are probably fans of mainstream movies that real movie buffs would shun. I have heard people either love this movie or hate it, there really is no in between, I guess you have to appreciate Anderson and Wilson's humor. Rent it first to see if you like it. I rented it, then went out and bought it as soon as it was over. It immediately shot up to at least one of my top 20 favorite movies of all time. Hilarious in a way that not many movies can be. Great buy.

Rating:
Summary: It's not loud, nor blatant, flashy, action-packed....
Review: ....which is exactly why it is so poignant and watchable. The scenes are quiet and slower-paced than flashy action movies because they are dialogue-based. You really have to concentrate on the film, think about it and put a little bit into it yourself. The "point" of the movie is not going to be spoon-fed to you, and this makes it very rewatchable, because each time there are more nuances to be found, more music to be listened for. The scenery and costumes are beautifully stylized, and the use of book covers and illustrations reminiscent of the 60s and 70s is a brilliant touch. And as for the comment that there aren't any more ocean liners, I really don't think that strict reality was meant to pertain to this movie (and by the way, we still have ocean liners; they're just called cruise ships now).

Rating:
Summary: Best Movie of the Year
Review: If you don't "get" The Royal Tenenbaums, I feel sorry for you. Reaction of this movie is either love it or hate it -- no in-between. If you have enjoyed the work of Wes Anderson, you will find TRT to be his best trip yet. This was my personal movie of the year.

Rating:
Summary: Best movie I've seen this year - don't miss it!
Review: Very worth owning, very worth watching again and again and again. The soundtrack is wonderful, too!

Rating:
Summary: gwyneth paltrow never looked better
Review: not for people that don't understand irony

Rating:
Summary: I hated it!
Review: I was extremely disappointed with this movie. I am a highly intelligent, highly educated, and eclectic person who loves all sorts of comedies. But I just didn't find anything to laugh at in this movie. I had the exact same reaction as the first reviewer, Secordman, who rated this film 1 star: "No, it isn't because we're brain dead people with no attention span, The Royal Tennenbaums is just a bad unentertaining movie from start to finish. I remember slumping in my seat after 45 minutes realizing this dreck was as good as it was going to get. I bought into the hype by film critics who should know better."