The Magnificent Meyersons

This movie is an unusual amalgam of a tiny independent film, with lots of characters walking around New York City having interesting conversations, and...well, almost a science fiction film.

Because something big happens (off screen) halfway through the movie, and it affects the lives of all the characters. It's a big idea, almost a science fiction idea, and it has different impacts on all the characters.

Oh, something else big happens towards the end, something more interpersonal. Complicated family dynamics.

Anyway, if you like talky movies, you'll like this. Don't let the "science fiction" idea I mentioned deter you, while this movie takes on big concepts, it's definitely got the soul of a quiet independent film and not at all an effects-driven blockbuster.

It's very sad when you watch a film that should have been so much better had the writing, direction and acting been better. Unfortunately, 'The Magnificent Myersons'(TMM) fails miserably on all these fronts, despite the best efforts of Richard Kind, Kate Milgrew and the iconic Barbara Barrie. Terrible script gives very little for them to do. Their amazing talents are wasted here. The son, is a native Californian and badly miscast in this quintessential New York picture. His LA accent is apparent here. However, his miscasting is the least of TMM's problems. The only positive thing I will say is that it showcases the Big Apple beautifully. The photography is the film's only positive attribute. The back and forth religious arguments get tiring very quickly, a rabbinical student vs his atheist friend. Yawn! I rate this film DWYT- Don't Waste Your Time!

In quirky, NY Jewish indie drama "The Magnificent Meyersons" Jackie Burns (married to Greg Keller), Ian Kahn, Daniel Eric Gold & Shoshannah Stern are the adult kids of Dr Kate Mulgrew (daughter of Barbara Barrie) & Richard Kind... the latter of whom left decades prior, for reasons that may or may not emerge. Writer / director Evan Oppenheimer relies on amusing, intellectual but inauthentic dialogue (and a sub-plot involving aliens!) to carry the film relaxingly through the family dysfunction to its conclusion... which is HORRIBLY inconclusive, to leave a feeling of 'wtf was THAT about', which is never good. Shame, considering some of the nice performances.

While I loved the cast and initial plot about a Jewish family focused on the adults. They are living in NY and trying to mange their lives. There is wierd and uncessary Sy Fy plot twist. The writing and directing were average or below average. They filmed a lot of it of people talking and walking together in the cold winter city streets. The scenes did not change much so that was odd. It often was seeming to be the same location, same clothes ' same weather diffrent day. The conversations lacked intrest and the final plot twist did not do much for me as an audience mber. 😚😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑

But still a decent watch.

Asking the big questions: Why do we suffer? Where does it all end? What makes life liveable? And like the son asked his father: What's the point of it all? Life?

This film uses a life changing (off camera) event, to question the purpose of our all lives. It is a lot of talking, yes, this movie pretty much "just" shows the conversations of multiple people that are all connected (family relations). But the conversations are rarely boring and interesting enough to make you think. Like, what would I do in this situation? What would I think of this?

The whole situation with the dad is a bit too vague to fully understand and relate to, and overall although there were interesting conversations that made me think, in the end I didn't find it "deep enough". I think this film could have gone even deeper into the big life questions (which this movie really is all about). It was overall still too lighthearted for me and I wished for deeper conversations. Interesting watch and concept, but could have been executed better. That's why just 6 stars.