You Can Choose Your Family

I really enjoyed this clever comedy about Frank, and its deep dive down the rabbit hole of the life of a creative bigamist. The script and characters are hilarious, and I knew from the moment the plot and cast were revealed in the trailer that this was going to be a riproaring little gem. This is the directorial debut for Miranda, and it's great to see a female director and Skidmore alum step up and excel with such a bold film. Don't miss it!

I thought this movie was quite clever and funny. Logan Miller portrays Philip, a teenager who decides on spring break to deceive his parents and head up to the lakeside Starling Festival with his best friend.

However, upon arrival, he will get the shock pf his life when he discovers his father (Jim Gaffigan) has a complete second family. Of course, from there things will get very, very complicated.

All in all, this type of movie is not easy to get all the pieces to fit together. But I thought director Amanda Bailey and writer Glen Lakin did well here to get the elements to gel nicely. Although the movie can be sad and cutting at times, I did find myself laughing a lot and I really enjoyed the film.

This film tells the story of a young man who discovers that his father has another family.

The plot may sound sad and offensive, but the film is actually quite funny. Even though the father has committed such an act, the film portrays him sympathetically and makes you feel for him. It is quite a feat to turn a monstrous life of lie into a comedy.

Comedy about a man living a double life with two families for 20 years? Movies with such serious seeming themes are not made for comedies. Walking the line if a tough act which, when accomplished, usually results in classic type black comedies. In this case Frank's writers pull it off in fun and also serious fashion. Son Philip and dad Frank are both likeable and do well acting. The remainder of the cast also does well. The writer(s) win the day crafting a dandy back story and current goings on. Frank's effort to convince his son Philip that he did the 'right' thing, embarking on a double life, given the circumstances. What else was a man to do!

The writers missed a final fun twist. They could have had wife #2 announce her first child was not Franks removing a major obstacle to sibling love.

That aside, well done!

The film isn't really that funny, it's not particularly well acted and quite Frankly, no pun intended, its a middle of the road film. However having watched a lot of these so called serious films, on subjects that tackle some of the same themes in this film. I would much rather be entertained in this manner, than force fed misery from a serious film.

All in all, the film covers some harsh concepts but in a light easy to see all sides of a perspective way. Life isn't binary people. Worth a lazy day easy watch.