The Royal Tenenbaums

[CTDChris]

Has anyone else seen this movie? I saw it for the first time today and thought it was genius

[Michael Valentine]

I've seen it a few times since it first came out. Top notch film. Hackman really carries the movie, but the Wilsons, Paltrow, and Houston really stood out, at least for me. It's definitely one to see more than once.

[CTDChris]

I agree its a weird and different kind of humor but the writing and acting is second to none.

[Kerensky287]

I didn't really like it all that much.

Granted, I was like 10 when I saw it.

[Magus]

I've never actually thought any of Wes Anderson's movies were funny, but some of them were sort of interesting, like The Life Aquatic, etc. I think one can only watch so many movies involving made-up super-weird families before it gets tiresome, though. It's difficult to believe that Wes Anderson's family was like ALL of these ones. I could see maybe one film that personified some wacky thing about his own family or his own experiences, but you can't repackage the same sort of not-funny humor six or seven times and expect to keep getting called a genius (though I guess it keeps happening, Charlie Rose for example finally interviewed him for the latest one, The Darjeeling Limited, and decided to treat him like he had done something appealing to someone somewhere. I'd also like to say that Wes Anderson is one pale albino vampire lookin' guy, but I guess that is neither here nor there.)

I think the only reason people actually watch his films is every single one of them IS marketed as a madcap comedy starring Ben Stiller or Bill Murray or whoever when in fact they're nothing of the sort, and not even close (not even comedies, really). They might do better if aimed at the sort of arthouse crowd that would enjoy I Heart Huckabees or something.

[Demetrius]

The humor is macabre.

In a similar sort of vein, Death at a Funeral manages to be far funnier and do much more with a dark sort of content and family antics.

[RickZarber]

I don't know whatchya'll are talking about. I love Wes Anderson's movies. There's certainly a melancholy vein to them, but I really don't think it stops them from being funny. It's just that you're laughing at awkward moments and ridiculous characters or situations instead of "set-up, gag, punchline / slapstick". I think it's funny the same way The Office is funny (the BBC version anyways).

It's also the only time I can stand Owen Wilson, y'know, since he started playing the same character in every other movie after Shanghai Noon. Wes Anderson at least gets him to play different personalities. (See esp. Life Aquatic.)

Also, I wanna know when the hell we're getting Bottle Rocket on Criterion...

[Kaneda]

I think Wes Anderson's movies are quite good. A pleasant change from comedies revolving entirely around the humor. They try a little hard to be quirky and indie, but that doesn't hurt it too much, like it hurt Juno.