Reuniting the Rubins

This is definitely one of my favourites of the year - a good. classic comedy with stonkingly good performances particularly from Tim Spall who always was good at social comedy.

The plot has Jewish mother and Grandmother (a feisty Honor Blackman) wish to see her son's four children reunited for Pesach - Passover. Of course, they're not on talking terms with each other - one's a career fanatic, the other a Chasidic Rabbi, the third has rejected his roots and become a Buddhist monk, and finally, a daughter, who works in Africa and is intent on saving the world.

The only thing that was slightly off-kilter was the subplot about the mining and the display. Otherwise this is a terrific comedy with some real laughs, a few tears, and even some spirituality. Above all though, this is a very fine social comedy about family.

A fun film with good performances.

Great film, great cast, lovely story, loved it. I watched this film as a lapsed catholic (not that that has any bearings on it) and knowing very little about the Jewish world. I found the film pretty funny, one or two places it pushed into Jewish themes which I didn't really get but that didn't matter as was laughing all the way through. Cast were stellar and there is one line written by Yoav Factor that will make your heart melt delivered by James Callis. I can imagine that this director has been through some journey to ge this to screen. Overall a sterling effort on what was a pretty small budget. A worthy British film that should catch on with it's global family themes.

I took my family to watch this movie and all of us left the cinema feeling positively uplifted and that much closer as a family unit. I have to say that this is not the type of movie I would usually go to watch so I was pleasantly surprised by this thoroughly enjoyable movie. It is a great performance all round from the whole crew, the film was very well casted and has some fantastic actors, the soundtrack is really good and I am looking forward to watching Yoav Factor's next film. All in all the movie promotes fantastic family moral values in a highly entertaining and humorous way. I thoroughly recommend this film to all audiences, especially families and will most likely watch it a number of times myself.

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.

I absolutely loved this feel good, touching and heartwarming family comedy. I can't wait to see it again and own it on DVD! It is great to see a drama about Jewish family dynamics and culture, with many of the themes universal to all families. Timothy Spall, an outstanding British actor, gives a convincing performance, and he is well supported by the rest of the cast, who all portray diverse characters within the Rubins family. Perfect for a relaxed Sunday afternoon movie trip, this film will make you laugh and smile, and you may even shed a tear by the end. If you haven't seen it yet I would recommend it wholeheartedly. If you are not afraid of a bit of quality shmaltz and can embrace it then you will enjoy it.