Reuniting the Rubins

A very funny film from Yoav Factor - though roughly enjoyable all round family entertainment, that anyone with siblings and ageing parents can identify with. Honour Blackman's portrayal of an elderly Jewish mother is excellent. A genuinely heart warming film with lots of funny moments and a touching storyline. Whilst Timothy Spall, puts in an excellent performance, Rhona is excellent as the daughter and I felt that the role of the Rabbi was a hysterically funny. I particularly liked the fact Yoav did not work with a predominantly Jewish Cast for this film. Overall this was a great first attempt by an aspiring new director and well worth a viewing if you understand the dynamics and you are from a large family.

Reuniting the Rubins places itself very much in Woody Allen territory, with one disaster after another striking Lenny Rubins as his unruly children and matriarchal mother reek havoc upon his travel plans. Yet all is resolved amidst much joviality and after numerous twists in which these endearing characters play out their various "missions" until, like a good tragic comedy, order and harmony are restored. Reuniting the Rubins is well written and beautifully observed slice of Jewish family life, and one doesn't have to be Jewish (I'm not) to appreciate the subtleties of character and the playfulness and fun that went into the making of this film.

Grandmother Rubin has bought the family home where they all grew up. She wants her four grandchildren to come for Seder. When they finally show up for their grandmother and for their father, they don't rise to the occasion. They fight non stop. These kids are 40 something. They grew up in a lovely house, but none of them took care of it. The house is a wreck. The two other sons are religious fanatics; one an obsessive rabbi, and the other a guru who gives people words of wisdom. One great-grandchild is neglected and offers his father money to spend time with him. After witnessing her grandchildren fight, she blesses each of them. She goes upstairs to bed and by morning she has died. The guru's wife goes into labor. The father, keeps repeating, "They are too different to get along." No, they are too selfish to get along. They all want to do what they want to do and will never change. All situations in this film are depicting unpleasant people being themselves. I call that a documentary.

The balance between characters and family dynamics is integrally shaped to reveal the struggles, hopes and aspirations of family life in modern times. A father sets out to engage his grown children only to find that time has moved on. Time has revealed a divergent set of character traits within the family, making reunion an interesting and feisty experience. A blend of subtle humor and underlying tensions invoke moments of joy and angst, persistently generic to family life. Unique characteristics of the Rubin families makes reunion though an interesting and captivating ride. The production colorfully mixes location and context with flow to ensure a coherent delivery of semantic meaning and purpose.

A really good first feature from Yoav Factor. For my money, Tim Spall and Honor Blackman steal the show. I didn't think a comic drama about a Jewish mother and son would float my boat - but this is far from so simplistic. it's about family, warts and all, with a liberal sprinkling of love and affection. It may not set the movie world alight - no SFX, no 3D, no explosions or sell-on games opportunities... but it is well worth a look.

Someone on here said 'A British Woody Allen'... Woody Allen in the days of Hannah and Her Sisters, Manhattan, Annie Hall....now there's something to aspire to!!