Rating: 
Summary: Just too weird
Review: This movie does not make a whole lot of sense. It seems to try too hard to be different to the point of distraction. The actors don't seem to be really into either with the exception of Gene Hackman and Ben Stiller. Slow and plodding with a ho-hum ending. Don't bother.
Rating: 
Summary: An Acquired Taste
Review: Apparently THE ROYAL TENNENBAUMS is one of those films you either love or hate, with no in-between. Though far from a masterpiece, it's a highly entertaining film, though its' attempts at being quirky for quirky's sake threaten to undermine the picture on more than one occasion. The highly dysfunctional Tennenbaum clan is the crux of the story, with backstory on the characters and other parts of the film narrated deftly by Alec Baldwin. As the estranged patriarch, Gene Hackman deserved at least an Oscar nod, giving one of the best lead performances of last year. Ably supporting him are Anjelica Huston as the brilliant yet emotionally clueless family matriarch, Gwyneth Paltrow, showing deadpan brilliance as adopted daughter Margot, and Danny Glover as Huston's coworker and suitor. Fairing less well are the remaining male cast, particurly Ben Stiller(doing his umpteenth take on "the weirdest one in the crowd")and Luke Wilson, who continues to mistake his brand of laid-back acting as some tiny ray of talent(sorry, but I have yet to see it). Overall, if you can get past the many obviously affected quirks that are littered throughout the film and appreciate the understated humor, you're in for a treat.
Rating: 
Summary: Like a traffic accident...
Review: I couldn't stop watching. The movie was advertised as a comedy, and on that front I was rather disappointed. It wasn't very funny. Some have said it was a drama, which is probably the closest one could come to categorizing it, though that is far from an exact fit. The longer, more accurate, description would be slightly funny, slightly dramatic American 'art film'.While I am far from in love with this film, there is a certain appeal to it that made watching enjoyable enough. It takes place in a sort of fantasy New York, being defined by no strict geography or time period. For that, it was a visually interesting movie. I loved the old fashioned elevator operators and their uniforms. Perhaps, if there is anything to relate to, it is the nutty, strange, and yet common craziness that tends to pervade families. Most of us tend to keep up a "normal" appearance and hold everything else behind closed doors. The Tenenbaums at least do it out in the open, unashamedly, and with a certain unique flair. For that, the movie is worth watching.
Rating: 
Summary: What's all the fuss about?
Review: I'm a big Ben Stiller fan, and an even bigger Gene Hackman fan, and I was prepared to love this movie. But it's dull, terribly dull and pretentious. The tone is all off, swinging listlessly from silly jokes and sight gags to "quiet dramatic moments" that don't go anywhere and, as often as not, end with characters moping around, staring emptily into space. The movie wants to be literate and important. Instead, it just [stinks].
Rating:
Summary: Did I miss something?
Review: A friend GAVE me his copy. To keep. I tried to give it back. No joy. Definitely not everyone's cup of tea.
Rating:
Summary: For those thirsty for dry humor
Review: The trailers for "The Royal Tenenbaums" offered glimpses of a film I knew would be different than the usual tripe one gets from a Hollywood comedy these days. Don't get me wrong, films like "Dumb and Dumber" by the Farrelly brothers have their place and are a necessary evil in the world of comedies to maintain balance. But the 5000 [others] that followed suit have tilted the American comedy towards a less and less appealing mediocrity. So when a film like this comes along that dares and strives to be different in a humorous sense, the balance is restored, and Wes Anderson champions again the dry and sly wit that makes one perpetually chuckle instead of occasionally laugh. As he did in "Rushmore", Anderson has elevated dead-pan comedy to another level. Much like the Coen brothers did for "Barton Fink" and "Fargo", Wes Anderson points out the absurdities of reality, and lets these subtle idiosynchrasies speak for themselves. It's Zen-comedy that tries by not trying. And it works. Luke Wilson and Gwyneth Paltrow play parts that seem as if written for them (and an excellent vehicle for Gwyneth to show her hidden talents as an actress). The neurotic Ben Stiller and remedial Danny Glover seem a bit our of place in a film that moves like an Austrian cuckoo clock between scenes, but Gene Hackman does an excellent job portraying the asinine father that binds the family together against their will. So if you're looking for humor dumbed-down for easy accessibility, you're coming to the wrong film. But if you enjoy comedic style perfected by the British in the sixties and revamped and modernized by the Coens and Wes Anderson in the 21st century, "The Royal Tenenbaums" is a must-have for those who like to chuckle for two hours straight.
Rating: 
Summary: Timeless Film-Dark, Witty, and Intelligent
Review: First of all, the movie is extremely comedic. Don't think so? That's because it's a dark sense of humor, and that's usually the best kind. Royal Tenenbaum (Hackman) is a con of a man who abandoned his dysfunctional family years and years ago, only to have to try and make up for lost time when he goes broke and is thrown out of the hotel where he lives. With nowhere to go, Royal must try and make amends with his estranged wife and three genius-level children, most of whom hate him for his total disregard for them up to this point. This is where the movie takes off, for Royal actually DOES come to love his family while he is busy trying to fake it for a place to stay. Lots of laughs, though the story really is a solid one, and the cast is utterly perfect. This is a great film, not to be missed!
Rating:
Summary: Direct-to-Criterion
Review: "The Royal Tenenbaums" is easily the most accessible of director Wes Anderson's three movies. Like its brothers, it scales the daunting task of pairing quirkiness with sincerity. It is a truly ensemble work; every character brings a different meaning to the whole. Because of this, it may seem at times that Anderson has overextended himself. However, the film never bites off more than it can chew. Like Anderson's subtle coming-of-age "Rushmore," it is a study in the process of personal revelation and redemption. It's different from other movies with similar motives, though -- it's fun to watch. The 2-disc DVD set is nifty. The art (which is the only reason I'd ever even think of scrapping my plain-jane "Rushmore" DVD for the Criterion Edition) is unbelievably sad and funny and labored, which is a good thing. The interviews are pretty boring, and like some of the other DVD Extras, awfully self-indulgent. But some nerd will like the Extras, and simply for the sake of thoroughness, they're a plus to the DVD and not a minus. Pleasantly, this movie got a direct-to-Criterion release, and for good reason. It's just a really great movie. It's compassionate, smart, a little snarky, quirky, detailed (right down to the typefaces on every book), nuanced, and above all, genuine. It is a comedy that holds back just enough to ring true.
Rating:
Summary: This is a wonderful movie, if you aren't a brain-dead slug.
Review: I found this movie engrossing and bizzare. Anyone who claimed "not to get it" is either too stupid to wrap their brain around it or are just too used to their WWF plotlines that something as subtle as this movie zooms way over their mullet-ed heads. These are the same people that didn't get "Crouching Tiger" and who find anything without 1.) Kung Fu 2.) Explosions 3.) Wrasslin' 4.) Wrasslin' exlodin' kung fu ACTION ACTION ACTION to be a bad movie. These are the same people that keep TNN in business.
Rating:
Summary: A Drama, NOT A COMEDY.
Review: If I had viewed this film from the angle of a DRAMA, I probably would have thought a little better of it. However, it was over hyped, and portrayed as a comedy, so I expected the wrong thing... I still gets 4 stars. It's a good movie. Just go at it thinking it won't be as good as the cast makes it sound, and that it IS A DRAMA... the ads were misleading... ~Andy
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