The Meyerowitz Stories review: Noah Baumbach delivers Netflix’s second film at the 2017 Cannes Festival, a family comedy full of edge that delivers in spades.
The Meyerowitz Stories review by Paul Heath at the 2017 Festival de Cannes.
The Meyerowitz Stories review
“He has to be great artist. Otherwise he’s just a prick.” Just one of the many witty lines delivered in the second of Netflix’s two debuting movies at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival; Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected), an interesting family comedy focusing on the estranged Meyerovitz’s of the title.
Patriarch Howard (Dustin Hoffman) is said artist, retired living in New York City with third wife Maureen (Emma Thompson), an apparent alcoholic. The film stars with an introduction to Danny (Adam Sandler), Howard’s son from his first marriage, attempting to locate a parking space (with limited success) in downtown Manhattan. With him is his eighteen-year-old daughter Eliza (Grace Van Patten) who is about to start university and her grandfather’s old alter mater. Danny is also at another massive turning point in his life having recently split and divorced from Eliza’s mother. Homeless having never had a job – his wife was the breadwinner – his intention is to stay with his father until he gets back on his feet. Joining them at the apartment is Jean (Elizabeth Marvel), Danny’s kooky-looking sister who is as equally unfortuitous in terms of career or life plan.
The Meyerowitz Stories review
Later on, in the film’s second chunk, we’re introduced to Ben Stiller’s Matthew, the golden boy of the Meyerovitz clan having managed to get a ‘proper job’ at a big L.A. based accountancy firm. With clients including big name rock stars – one of them being Adam Driver in an uncredited cameo – Matthew is seen as the hot ticket of the family with Howard even naming one of his sculptures after his youngest son. Michael meets with his father for lunch in a very entertaining, exceptionally executed scene where Howard takes offence to a neighbouring table placing various objects next to him while they are eating, thus invading his space.
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The essence of Baumbach’s film is based on this strange family, all forced to come together for a sequence of events in and around New York, which is not only relatable, but very, very funny. The writing and acting on show here is exemplary with a lot of the entertainment coming from its talented cast, especially Dustin Hoffman, who is extraordinary in the role of Howard. Stiller also brings his A-game to the uptight winner in Matthew, of course who is not without his own demons and self-torture, but it is the work of Adam Sandler which really shouldn’t surprise (let’s not forget his outstanding work on the Paul Thomas Anderson film Punch-Drunk Love), but really does, especially as the film hurtles towards its climax. Sandler’s Danny, who delivered that gut-punch of line from early in this review is is heart-felt, sentimental and full of emotional depth, and indeed perhaps the best thing about this very warming drama. Special mention must also go to Grace Van Patten’s film student Eliza, who also attends to some of the other stand-out moments from the film, particularly with her not un-pornographic shorts honestly delivered to to the family for viewing and approval.
The Meyerowitz Stories review
Undoubtedly a hit with audiences in Cannes in a very controversial year, Baumbach’s film, while not amongst his best work, still manages to impress in almost every frame. Truly funny, tugging in all of the right places, the Meyerowitz’s are not a family to immediately warm to, but their selected short stories being told here really do manage to hit all of the right notes. A brilliant piece of work.
The Meyerowitz Stories review by Paul Heath, May 2017.
The Meyerowitz Stories review will be released on Netflix later in 2017 on a date TBC.
Click here for all of our coverage from Cannes 2017.
