"Everybody's Fine" is one of those quieter holiday movies. They weren't going for a big awards push, no splashy CGI/animation, and no grandiose plot line. They did everything they were going for just fine.
We have Robert De Niro, a widower, travelling to each of his grown children's houses for Christmas. David (Austin Lysy) is in New York; Amy (Kate Beckinsale) is in Chicago; Robert (Sam Rockwell) is in Denver; and Rosie (Drew Barrymore) is in Las Vegas. They each of course have their own problems (in their own niche of their big city) which belie their constant refrain, "Everybody's fine, dad".
These are all competent actors doing a good job, with story lines which work well for them. The issue with the movie is, that we as the audience know the trouble and lies that are brooding beneath the surface, and we know them long before De Niro finds out. So all we get is a sense of frustration along with the sadness they are currently facing. I also wouldn't want to keep secrets from De Niro for very long.
The jokes are minimal, and too often, drawn out for no good purpose. "Everybody's Fine" is a weeping drama which espouses on some of life's important(?) lessons. This is all just fine, but do we really want Hollywood teaching us values in parent-child relationships?
We have Robert De Niro, a widower, travelling to each of his grown children's houses for Christmas. David (Austin Lysy) is in New York; Amy (Kate Beckinsale) is in Chicago; Robert (Sam Rockwell) is in Denver; and Rosie (Drew Barrymore) is in Las Vegas. They each of course have their own problems (in their own niche of their big city) which belie their constant refrain, "Everybody's fine, dad".
These are all competent actors doing a good job, with story lines which work well for them. The issue with the movie is, that we as the audience know the trouble and lies that are brooding beneath the surface, and we know them long before De Niro finds out. So all we get is a sense of frustration along with the sadness they are currently facing. I also wouldn't want to keep secrets from De Niro for very long.
The jokes are minimal, and too often, drawn out for no good purpose. "Everybody's Fine" is a weeping drama which espouses on some of life's important(?) lessons. This is all just fine, but do we really want Hollywood teaching us values in parent-child relationships?