I have to say that "Everybody's Fine" is clearly one of the better movies I've seen in a long time as after watching I was touched and even teared up almost wanting to cry. The film is certainly an emotional drama. And the performance from legendary Robert De Niro ranks as one of his finest as Bob is one of the best actors in the business. "Everybody's Fine" is blended well with drama and intrigue yet the themes of secrets and sorrow overshadow everything only in the end happiness is finally reached.
Robert De Niro is Frank Goode a recently widowed man who misses his wife and has the house all to himself. Frank has four grown kids who all do their own thing and live in different parts of the country. Frank wants to get all of them together for a visit yet when he contacts them all three of them just can't find the right time to visit and the other one son David(Austin Lysy)is unable to be reached. So Frank decides to set out on a journey to visit them all.
Frank uses many forms of travel along the way even though it was against his doctors wishes for him to journey out and travel. So he boards the train on the way up to New York City to visit artist son David and along the way Frank looks at the power lines of telephone polls to remind him of how life has passed for him over the years as laying power lines and poles was what Frank did for a living. When arriving in New York City David's apartment is empty the only memories Frank has is his flashbacks of David as a small boy,(as this film uses the flashback technique well with Frank seeing all of his grown children as little ones when he first meets them). So Frank then decides to journey off by bus to see his next child.
This meeting happens to be with daughter Amy(Kate Beckinsale who as always looks so bright and sexy)who's a successful advertising executive in Chicago. Everything seems normal for Amy she seems happily married while raising her young son, and money seems okay as you can tell by her living space and the professional elegant clothing she wears. Only at the dinner table friction is felt and Amy tells dad she just doesn't have the time for Frank to stay at least for an extended time.
Then the next journey on more buses is to the Rockies in Denver to see son Robert(Sam Rockwell)who plays the drums in an orchestra and he seems happy as Frank is somewhat disappointed that Robert is not the leader of the band so to speak! Anyway they talk and Robert seems happy but not happy enough to spend time with dad. So then Frank takes another journey of trains, and buses with his sights set on Las Vegas. Only some roadblocks and jams come up along the way for Frank like a missed train and a somewhat dangerous encounter with a teenage thug that deprives Frank of his medicine in a big way. Interesting is seeing him hitch a ride into Vegas from a woman trucker Colleen(Melissa Leo)which was comical. Now he meets daughter Rosie(the witty and quirk Drew Barrymore)everything seems fine with Rosie nice apartment she says work as a dancer is fine yet you can spot she's a probable lesbian when the female friend brings a baby over that ends up staying for the night. Still all three siblings had no word or info on David just hidden suspicions. So Frank flies away yet hits major medical turbulence on the plane.
Oddly enough awakening in the hospital bed surrounded by his children Frank discovers truths from each yet it was foreshadowed some by his before hand dream. Only he will sadly learn the tragic fate of David. Yet aside from the lonely mood and sad sorrow feel of this film it teaches important messages. Frank always pushed his children hard as he found out they turned out fine yet he learns an important factor that the definition of happiness is different for everyone as people like his kids spread their wings and live life their way on their own time. Sure secrets were kept only because they didn't want to disappoint Frank which oddly the secrets ended up providing bonding and happiness for Frank and his children in the end as proved by the holiday get to together! As Frank saw that everybody's just fine the way that they are and that was how things were meant to be as the secrets don't have to worry you and he still loves his children the same just the way they are. Overall great film with an emotional and touching performance from De Niro even though it's sad and lonely sorrow feel may dominate the minutes, this picture still ends with happiness proving that love conquers all for people just the way that they are even during family secrets. Great movie that's touching and emotional you will feel like you want to shed a few tears.
Robert De Niro is Frank Goode a recently widowed man who misses his wife and has the house all to himself. Frank has four grown kids who all do their own thing and live in different parts of the country. Frank wants to get all of them together for a visit yet when he contacts them all three of them just can't find the right time to visit and the other one son David(Austin Lysy)is unable to be reached. So Frank decides to set out on a journey to visit them all.
Frank uses many forms of travel along the way even though it was against his doctors wishes for him to journey out and travel. So he boards the train on the way up to New York City to visit artist son David and along the way Frank looks at the power lines of telephone polls to remind him of how life has passed for him over the years as laying power lines and poles was what Frank did for a living. When arriving in New York City David's apartment is empty the only memories Frank has is his flashbacks of David as a small boy,(as this film uses the flashback technique well with Frank seeing all of his grown children as little ones when he first meets them). So Frank then decides to journey off by bus to see his next child.
This meeting happens to be with daughter Amy(Kate Beckinsale who as always looks so bright and sexy)who's a successful advertising executive in Chicago. Everything seems normal for Amy she seems happily married while raising her young son, and money seems okay as you can tell by her living space and the professional elegant clothing she wears. Only at the dinner table friction is felt and Amy tells dad she just doesn't have the time for Frank to stay at least for an extended time.
Then the next journey on more buses is to the Rockies in Denver to see son Robert(Sam Rockwell)who plays the drums in an orchestra and he seems happy as Frank is somewhat disappointed that Robert is not the leader of the band so to speak! Anyway they talk and Robert seems happy but not happy enough to spend time with dad. So then Frank takes another journey of trains, and buses with his sights set on Las Vegas. Only some roadblocks and jams come up along the way for Frank like a missed train and a somewhat dangerous encounter with a teenage thug that deprives Frank of his medicine in a big way. Interesting is seeing him hitch a ride into Vegas from a woman trucker Colleen(Melissa Leo)which was comical. Now he meets daughter Rosie(the witty and quirk Drew Barrymore)everything seems fine with Rosie nice apartment she says work as a dancer is fine yet you can spot she's a probable lesbian when the female friend brings a baby over that ends up staying for the night. Still all three siblings had no word or info on David just hidden suspicions. So Frank flies away yet hits major medical turbulence on the plane.
Oddly enough awakening in the hospital bed surrounded by his children Frank discovers truths from each yet it was foreshadowed some by his before hand dream. Only he will sadly learn the tragic fate of David. Yet aside from the lonely mood and sad sorrow feel of this film it teaches important messages. Frank always pushed his children hard as he found out they turned out fine yet he learns an important factor that the definition of happiness is different for everyone as people like his kids spread their wings and live life their way on their own time. Sure secrets were kept only because they didn't want to disappoint Frank which oddly the secrets ended up providing bonding and happiness for Frank and his children in the end as proved by the holiday get to together! As Frank saw that everybody's just fine the way that they are and that was how things were meant to be as the secrets don't have to worry you and he still loves his children the same just the way they are. Overall great film with an emotional and touching performance from De Niro even though it's sad and lonely sorrow feel may dominate the minutes, this picture still ends with happiness proving that love conquers all for people just the way that they are even during family secrets. Great movie that's touching and emotional you will feel like you want to shed a few tears.