The Royal Tenenbaums

Part two of my Wes Anderson spree, provided for by a friend with great taste, was just as enjoyable. Except this time: less quirky, more poignant.

The Royal Tenenbaums reaches an emotional level The Life Aquatic didn't. That's not a knock the latter, the two were just going for different things.

Again, I don't want to ruin anything, so I'm not going to go into much detail.

The characters had depth – not one was perfect or wholly likable, as was the case with The Life Aquatic. And the cast is equally stacked, with some cross-over: Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Gwyneth Patlrow, Bill Murray.

Basic premise: A family goes its separate ways after the mother (Huston) and father (Hackman) unofficially divorce. Due to a variety of personal reasons, the family reconvenes under one roof. The plot goes from there.

The movie is very funny, but that's not its primary objective. What it really captures is a take on what it means to be a family, to have loyalty and honesty. All done, quite effectively, in the quirky, dead-pan Anderson style.

Luke Wilson may or may not have won some sort of award for his role. I'm not sure. But if he didn't he should have. He gave a performance (as a washed-up, lonely, tennis has-been) that was as powerful as it was awkward and peculiar. Whatever he was going for, I'm not really sure what, he hit the nail on the head. His role by itself makes this movie worth checking out.

And I can't get over the dialogue exchange. It's so dry, almost monotone in places. It seems like something actors are taught not to do. But the emotionlessness almost gives it more emotion. It's not like The Titanic, with grand, pregnant pauses meant to jerk tears (help!..............heelp!........whistle blow.............help!).

For me, the Anderson dialogues gives off more emotion that the grandiose close-ups and swelling string crescendos. It's more withdrawn, more believable – to a point where it's almost unbelievable – and that's what makes it great.

As was the case with The Life Aquatic, I can't find any glaring fault in this movie, at least none worth writing about. The characters are well developed, the writing is funny with a touch of philosophy and a touch of poignancy, and the music/camera work are spot on, so far as I can tell. But I'm no film critic – maybe someday.

So yeah, I'd suggest sitting down with this movie too, worth it. Watch this tidbit to wet your whistle. It gives away very little of the plot, so don't worry.