The Steps

So, it started off OK. And I mean just OK. I liked where the characters were going. But then, it got to a situation where BULLYING and ASSAULT was involved. AND allowed by BOTH parents no less. As well as allowed by the family members. It's not acceptable. And not funny.

The acting was decent. Jason Ritter was pretty good. I liked Christine Lahti. Halfway through the movie, they were the stand outs for me.

After the halfway mark, the movie got even worse and made me regret thinking there was hope. Maybe the best thing about the movie was that amazing house they filmed in and the scenery / location.

I can't believe that I missed this one in the theatres. I watched it today & thoroughly enjoyed it. Probably because my husband & I had a blended family of 8 children. It was interesting to see the dynamics of the adult children and several scenes made me laugh. Some serious subject matter & not recommended for younger children.

I was more than surprised by the very good cast and plot of this comedic, poignant yet interesting family drama of a movie. Held my attention with the various personalities "start to finish" as they say. The couple of Christine Lahti and James Brolin was believable and realistic - two people from different backgrounds with past life regrets wanting to start new and with love on their side. Jason Ritter was the biggest surprise; actually a better dramatic actor than his late father and a claim of his own in being a fine actor. Tammy was hysterical (Kate Corbett) and Keith really 'stole' the brother-spotlight with his less than stellar life to date yet his turn around to the importance of family - if not what his mother sacrificed and did for him and his siblings. Very enjoyable and easy to watch and even more so - easy to identify with the feelings of each of the siblings in their finest if not worst moments during the weekend get together. If you THINK this was MEANT to be pure comedy? Then you're not too bright...Look a little deeper at the reality of each and the dynamic of the "good, bad & ugly" in each and every family on this earth.

Jeff (Jason Ritter) and his sister Marla (Emmanuelle Chriqui) are invited to visit their father Ed (James Brolin) and his new wife Sherry (Christine Lahti). They are joined by Sherry's kids; David (Benjamin Arthur) and his wife Tammy (Kate Corbett), Keith (Steven McCarthy), and Sam (Vinay Virmani).

I like a few of these actors. They are trying to be funny. There is a few chuckles along the way. It doesn't have enough energy. The comedy needs some punching up. The indie filmmaking needs to be sharper. This is mildly amusing.

What a lovely movie but we all know that a government soulless automaton social worker would never allow that couple to adopt, EVER! Only a PC couple (PC people hide all their sins, they are great actors) would be allowed to adopt, period! For that reason and that reason alone I rated the movie a 9 instead of a 10. I hate unreality, basically a fairy tale, even when the fairy tale is heartrending and wistfully enjoyed with the occasional tear. Every performance in this movie was spot on, every performance interesting and unique. James Brolin was excellent and it's good to see that Christine Lahti is still fetching, quite lovely actually, despite being in her mid-sixties, she is very appealing. Christine plays a woman who should be every man's desire, a team player who puts the ones she loves first despite the personal cost to herself plus there is the hot factor. This is a thoroughly enjoyable vehicle and all should give it a go despite the departure from today's reality, but isn't that what movies do?