Familiar Strangers

Greetings again from the darkness. Small indie movie that tries to capture the frustration, pain and struggles we each face in the slow evolution of role within an aging family. While not at the level of "Junebug", it does deliver some excellent moments, situations and dialogue.

I first noticed Shawn Hatosy in the underrated "Outside Providence" and have enjoyed his work in "The Cooler" and "Nobel Son". His desire to re-connect with a Dad, who is crushed that his son chose to move to the city rather than run the family hardware store, is realistic and well played. Tom Brewer is excellent as the distant dad, even though he is a dead ringer of Billy Bob Thornton in "Swing Blade". Quirky DJ Qualls delivers the zingers and quips in fine fashion, Anna Paquin lookalike Cameron Richardson plays the bitter, recently divorced sister who just can't get it together. The mom (Ann Dowd) continues to do what she has always done ... act as the protector for her family, shielding them from bad news (such as the death of a relative!).

This typically dysfunctional family does manage to re-connect over a game of donkey ball at the annual fair. That's quite an event. Still despite the solid nature of John Bell's script, I constantly had the feeling that I was watching an amateur film. This was mostly due to the choppiness of Zachary Adler's direction. The numerous close-ups actually reduced the intimacy of many moments in the film. Worth seeing, but not at the level of "Juno" or "Little Miss Sunshine" as it is being advertised.

Quiet. Thoughtful. Funny. Meaningful.

It is a story of a family like many I know, dealing with all of the baggage that family relationships contain. This could sound boring to some, but give it a chance and it will creep up on you until you find that you care deeply. This film works surprisingly well in a genre that is well mined. It could have reeked of boredom but instead it is fresh in its approach.

Comparable to Little Miss sunshine and Juno, but not as contrived. Just real, meaningful entertainment. I rate a 9 out of 10 as the opening act could be more engrossing, but give it a chance and you will be rewarded.

I saw this film with no expectations one evening with my boyfriend and we were both pleasantly surprised. The story is eerily familiar as the characters are not-such-strangers since they can remind you of your own acquaintances...a fun yet frightening realization. My one criticism would be that there seems to be some parts that lack soundtrack or background noises. Maybe this was a creative decision to force us to focus on the uncomfortable moments?

This movie is a fantastic portrayal of the beauty in family dysfunction. Witty and sometimes painful, this film has you falling in love with its characters before you even realize it. A great movie with a great message! I definitely recommend watching this fun film!

This is a somewhat odd comedy, but it actually works very well for most parts, it is a strange family, some strange characters, a strange plot/story and all-in-all a strange or odd movie.

There are many things in this that works out, it is a lot of small events that form the bigger picture and it is strangely intriguing, maybe because some of the small events will be something you will recognize from yourself or your family. It is all these small quirks and strange acts that makes this film work and make it realistic and believable.

The pace is slow but homely, the characters could have been some from your family or home town and it is funny and entertaining in its own way.

I attended the opening of the film for the public in Fairfax, VA. This film is an especially good movie if you're looking for characters of depth and a good story. I was impressed with the development of the characters, the level and quality of the acting and the overall production value for an independent effort with a limited budget. The script and story line were well developed, had rich content. They especially ring true to those that have undergone, or are undergoing, changes in their family relationships as parents grow older and children become adults.

Set in any town America, during the Thanksgiving holiday, it is a touching story, with a poignant ending. But it is also liberally sprinkled with slightly off-beat and light hearted humor. A very good effort by the fledgling Cavalier films, and I hope to see more films of similar quality from this promising enterprise in the future.