The Family (film review)

With one or two exceptions, most notably Silver Linings Playbook, Robert de Niro's output has been far from admirable in the past ten or so years. Maybe he has been resting too much on his laurels. The Family fares no better. Resorting to crude stereotypes of Italian Americans and the French, this Luc Besson dark comedy focuses on an American family trying, unsuccessfully, to fit into French life after they enter an FBI witness protection programme. The script, by Besson, lacks subtlety, sharpness or flavour. The portrayal of the French are annoying assholes and Italian Americans as volatile and violent sociopaths provides very few, if any, laughs. A lot of the scenes just feel pointless and rather empty. For example, Michelle Pfeiffer's character visits a Catholic church and goes to confession at the request of the priest. She returns later to the church and the priest tells her to get out because her confession disturbed him so deeply. Why did Besson include this in the film? It adds nothing to the plot or themes of the film, and it is not funny. Maybe Besson just has a chip on his shoulder towards the Catholic Church. This sort of sloppy writing and direction is typical of The Family. Best to avoid. 4/10