This Is Where I Leave You

"It's hard to see people from your past when your present is so cataclysmically screwed up."

After their father dies, the Altman siblings agree to sit Shiva at their childhood home.  None of them are happy about the arrangement, especially when they learn that they all have to stay in the house for a week, but give in when their mother (Fonda) says it was their father's final wish.  Oldest son Paul (Stoll) still lives in their hometown and runs the family sporting goods store, and his wife Annie (Hahn) is trying to get pregnant.  Daughter Wendy (Fey) is married and has two young children.  Middle son Judd (Bateman) is getting a divorce, after catching his wife Quinn (Spencer) having an affair with his boss Wade (Shephard), but does not tell the family about the situation.  Youngest son Phillip (Driver) is reckless, trying to become an entrepreneur and dating his much older therapist Tracy (Britton).  The siblings have not been together for years and are barely civil to each other.

While home, Judd reconnects with Penny (Bryne), an old friend who had a crush on him.  Wendy is still in love with her high school sweetheart Horry (Olyphant), who suffered a brain injury when they were younger.  He still lives with his mother Linda (Monk),  Hilary's best friend, across the street from the Altman home.  All of the time together causes old wounds and arguments to resurface.  Can they survive the seven days of Shiva?


Apparently the film is based on the novel "This Is Where I Leave You" by Jonathan Trooper, who also wrote the screenplay for the film.  I have never read the book, but I intend to.  Based on several reviews and message boards, the book is significantly better than the film (as is usually the case) and is tonally different.

The film is interesting, but it was definitely aided by the excellent cast.  Jason Bateman is a strong lead, and it was nice to see him in a serious role.  He has good chemistry with the other leads and seems game for whatever the script throws his way.  I enjoy Tina Fey in everything, and it was nice to see her in a different role.  Adam Driver is interesting, and I can see why he is so popular right now.  Corey Stoll seems to be in everything lately, but that isn't a complaint.  He is good here.  The cast as a whole is impressive, and work well together.  Rose Bryne's character is the least interesting, but she has good chemistry with Bateman, so it's easy to overlook some of the flaws.  And Timothy Olyphant is heartbreaking.

I mostly enjoyed the film, and look forward to reading the novel to see how that shapes my opinion of the film.

This Is Where I Leave You (2014) 103 minutes
Rating: R for language, sexual content and some drug use
Director: Shawn Levy
Starring: Jason Bateman as Judd Altman
Tina Fey as Wendy Altman
Jane Fonda as Hillary Altman
Adam Driver as Phillip Altman
Rose Bryne as Penny Moore
Corey Stoll as Paul Altman
Kathryn Hahn as Annie Altman
Connie Britton as Tracy Sullivan
Timothy Olyphant as Horry Callen
Dax Shephard as Wade Beaufort
Debra Monk as Linda Callen
Abigail Spencer as Quinn Altman
Ben Schwartz as Rabbi Charles Grodner