The Thing About My Folks (2005) User Reviews

Mediocre at best. Disappointing performances and story.

[szokia · 5/10 · 6 November 2009]

Meh. This will not go down in history as a memorable movie. At least not for me it won't. The only thing memorable about it would be Peter Falk's less than masterful overdoing of the Jewish father schtick. And I generally have quite a soft spot for Peter Falk...

The movie overall was OK, but just in the most general sense. The plot line started out interesting but fizzled badly in the end. No real strength to the whole story. Paul Reiser did not do his best work here either. I don't think any of the actors really meshed with each other. Instead of telling a story, they kept kind of acting "at" each other. There was a woodenness about the whole effect. Even the great Olympia Dukakis could not get into her character's groove. And you only saw her for about ten minutes at the very end. But it's the worst acting I've ever seen from her, ever. Which isn't saying much, I know, because she is otherwise a fabulous actress. Let's just say her acting in this probably embarrassed all her acting coaches. It was not good.

Elisabeth Perkins was pretty, as usual, but completely lacked character or depth. The few witty lines she was given somehow just didn't make the cut either. They all fell kind of flat. You somehow knew they were meant to be funny, but just couldn't see the actual funny part for yourself.

All in all, a pretty ho-hum little movie that I would never take the time to watch again.

Apples and Oranges

[gradyharp · 7/10 · 21 January 2007]

Paul Reiser steps away from the standup comedy spotlight to write a warmly humorous and gently tender story about family - what we see and what we don't see, what we expect and what surprises us. THE THING ABOUT MY FOLKS doesn't set any new standards for film, but it is a fine little story well told that reminds us about the significant bonds that family represents.

Sam Kleinman (Peter Falk) has been a workaholic, at times pushing his wife Muriel (Olympia Dukakis), his daughters (Mackenzie Connolly and Lydia Jordan), and his son Ben (Paul Reiser) into the background. One day Muriel leaves a note that after years of marriage she is leaving! Her daughters, along with Ben's wife Rachel (Elizabeth Perkins) immediately begin the search for her whereabouts, leaving the confused and hurt and disgruntle Sam to sort things out on a road trip with son Ben. The road trip becomes a time for the two men to learn who each other is and what they each mean to their status as father and son and as family members. Sam relaxes for the first time in his life and introduces the now workaholic Ben to the pleasures and fun of living. The trip comes to an end with a phone call about the whereabouts of Muriel and why she left and the regrouping of the wiser family draws the story's warm ending. All is not what it seemed: it's better and, well, different.

Falk and Reiser play off each other like the pros they are, but in many ways the film belongs to the brief moments when Olympia Dukakis is on screen, reminding us that she is one of our strongest matriarchs on film. Well worth viewing. Grady Harp

It almost was a great film..

[Captnhook · 5/10 · 9 February 2006]

"The thing about my folks" is a touching and insightful film dealing with family relationships and provides a wonderful platform for the father (Falk) and son (Reiser) to interact with one another. It would have been a truly wonderful film but Reiser, who wrote the screenplay, chose to include continual flatulence gags and an unnecessary stream of profanity, which had me squirming uncomfortably in my seat. I can relate to many of the things that were covered in the film but I'd never use such profanity in a conversation with my father. If he had chose the higher ground and omitted the objectionable content I would've been able to whole heartedly recommended this motion picture to everyone I know but as it is I can't even watch it with my own family.

Mad About Them

[jcohen1 · 17 September 2005]

We saw the film this evening (not my first choice) and I was very pleasantly surprised. Kudos to Paul Reiser; this is not a made for TV movie, nor is it going straight to rental. Peter Falk should get an Academy Award nomination for his wonderful performance. The scenery of upstate NY is also beautiful and fits the movie. The film covers several tracks-father- son, mother- dad, and husband- wife. The whole family relationship thing is covered. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll recommend it to your 40 plus friends. Not a date movie. Peter Falk needs more work; his talent has been under utilized. Bottom line, the "Thing About My Folks" is I loved it and so will you.

A Fun Ride

[randpfab · 7/10 · 13 September 2005]

Peter Falk is hilarious in this father-son road movie, Jewish-style. He plays an aging husband and father of four adult children, who can't understand why his wife (Olympia Dukakis) would suddenly leave him after 47 years of marriage. He talks his son (Paul Reiser) into going on a long joyride with him, during which secrets are revealed and the son discovers that he is more like his father than he suspected. Reiser wrote himself a good role. He also co-produces. The writing is fast and witty, although it does tend to sag a little toward the end. They get into one scrape after another, with Sam, the father, managing to embarrass his son every time. I enjoyed this movie, but I recommend waiting for the DVD.

NOT for the Family, Potty Mouths Abound

[arieliondotcom · 7/10 · 21 October 2006]

I'm disappointed that Reiser (who wrote the film) felt the need to use so much profanity for no reason whatsoever. Maybe that's his idea of "adult" films, plenty of nasty words with bathroom humor thrown in? I thought better of him and think less of him for this movie.

Falk's acting and some moments of humor as well as some possibly important themes are what made me give it such a high rating.

This might be a good movie for adult children to watch and laugh over about their own folks and their foibles. But the lack of consideration for audience families seriously detriments what could have been a family film but fails. Certainly not worth spending money on, though it might be worth a watch for free on television.

screening in Seattle

[weeza2002 · 7/10 · 2 June 2005]

Paul captures the audience! He gracefully demonstrates his insight to human nature and our love for and determination to find unanswerable answers from our parents. The sporadic jumpy camera technique, not my favorite. And a few editing inconsistencies regarding the background shots. The storyline, however, took tight hold of my heart. You kept it moving at all times, very entertaining and touching story. Just the right timing and amount of humor throughout, to make it true to life, yet entertaining enough for the big screen. Well told! Bravo! My only comment regarding the Seattle screening is that I wish I could have shook your hand personally. I find your storytelling to be very straight forward and an honest replication of real life dialogue and thoughts. Congrats on being fortunate enough to find a means to make your films. And congrats on your endurance to bring this film to fruition after 20 some years and a dusty original draft.

If the film were smarter, it may be more insulting...the fact it's so ridiculous, one can easily forget about it

[moonspinner55 · 3/10 · 6 October 2015]

Middle-aged family man gets saddled with his old windbag of a father after Mom writes a telling letter saying she's leaving her husband because he has destroyed their marriage. Blaming her spouse for her lifelong unhappiness doesn't seem to phase Pop, however; he doesn't recognize his own personal failings, neither with his wife nor his children. This sets the scene for many conference calls between the couple's talkative daughters, while father and son hit the road for an unintended journey of rediscovery. They do all the typical father and son things after buying a beautiful vintage car they find sitting idle in a junk heap: fishing, drinking, pool-playing, bar-fighting, country line-dancing...they take in a local baseball game and even get picked up by a comely co-ed and her vivacious mother. Paul Reiser co-produced, wrote and stars in this anemic comedy-drama, an unfunny dirge putting family therapy in the hands of those directly responsible--and once everyone is heard, the healing can begin! Braying Peter Falk is angrily defensive over his behaviors of the past and refuses to take responsibility for the family ill-will, while son Reiser incredulously repeats back everything Pop says. It's an endless argument that goes around and around until father and son collapse on a country hill at night, underneath the stars while a plaintive guitar plucks in the background, and Dad tells his son he's really an OK guy. Some audiences may actually buy this--they may also swallow the bar-fight scene wherein Falk defeats a rowdy tough who welshes on a bet (both bully and son get a hit to the groin, that old comedy stand-by). Reiser has an open face and a nervous, half-inquisitive smile that shows you he's listening but is also thinking about something else; he reminds one of Albert Brooks (or the young Sydney Pollack when he was an actor), though Reiser's exasperated takes are like leftover gimmicks from sitcom-land. Falk, shouting at the sky, is simply a mouthpiece for the other side; Reiser tells him that, just maybe, he wasn't a very fair or attentive husband, which sends Dad over the edge. These scenes of discord don't build out of anything natural--they are only present to give the movie an angry argument--while Falk displays such out-of-control mania, he's tough to shake off when the picture's mood suddenly turns 'cute'. *1/2 from ****

Great movie lame title

[johno-21 · 8/10 · 2 February 2006]

I saw this film back at the 2005 Palm Springs International Festival and of the 14 films I saw there I would rank this #4. The 900+ theater was full and at the end it received a standing ovation. This was classic Peter Falk if you are a Falk fan and displayed a lot of chemistry between the Peter Falk and Paul Reiser characters. The film's title seemed to long and too odd sounding to me. I am surprised this didn't make it into general release. This was far better than the majority of junk that the major studios throw at you. Maybe too adult in that it was geared to the baby boomer and senior audience. A lot of people could relate to situations in this movie. This will probably enjoy a revival of sorts years from now when people look back at this film and consider it a kind of a gem. I would rate this 8.0 to 8.5 on a scale of 10 and definitely recommend it.

Bickering and Farting...Farting and Bickering

[JustDucky317 · 3/10 · 22 August 2006]

This movie could have been 15 minutes long if it weren't for all the bickering between son and father. Very predictable. Both Male "stars" need a good slap in the face! Would you like some cheese with that "whine?" Two chuckles...and a headache. I can understand why the mother left her hubby after 47 years...I don't know how she lasted that long! The first 5 minutes made me want to turn the movie off wishing I had never paid the $3.99 to watch it! The movie didn't flow well and was painfully long. I kept watching my watch hoping time would fly faster...It didn't. The script had so much repetition that it had to be easy for the writer to fill space. On a positive note...the scenery was pretty, fall being my favorite season. The car, the 40 Ford was also quite nice. This movie gets an D- rating approaching an F

Top-notch movie that touches the heartstrings

[peter-bird · 10/10 · 15 April 2005]

I saw the film at the Nashville Film Festival. It was beautifully done, from cinematography to the acting. It's the story of a father and son, and how they come to appreciate each other during a family crisis. Beautifully written with dialog that never rings false, the film showcases the acting talents of Paul Reiser and Peter Falk, among others in this outstanding cast. The film begins with the aging father (Peter Falk)is trying to figure out why his wife (Olympia Dukakis) has left him. The father presents himself, unannounced, on the doorstep of his son and daughter-in-law. The father and son take off the next day to look at some property and end up taking a classic road trip. They fish, play pool, watch a baseball game, get drunk, get involved in a barroom brawl, and dance with strange women. But more important, they each confront the unspoken tensions that can affect any family. It's the kind of film that touches the heart and makes one appreciate those who are closest to them.

An enjoyable slice of life...

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 21 June 2014]

"The Thing About My Folks" begins with Sam (Peter Falk) dropping by unannounced to the home of his son, Ben (Paul Reiser). They ask him why he unexpectedly showed up, Sam is rather nonchalant. Then, almost like an afterthought, he mentions that his wife just left him! Sam is shocked to hear that his parents have broken up after 46 years and immediately he and his siblings all talk on the phone about what to do. Well, for the meantime, Sam will stay with Ben and his family...and then?

Shortly after, Ben takes Sam on a trip to see some property he might buy out in the country. However, soon Sam suggests that instead of going back home that they go on a road trip--and where, exactly, he has no idea. Much of the rest of the movie is a meandering affair where the father and son bond and get to know each other better. After all, Sam had been a hardworking guy and there were a lot of things the two missed--and now they wanted to do some of them.

This portion of the film was wonderful. While somewhat plot less, it was a nice slice of life and some of these moments where the pair talked about their relationship were exquisitely made. Unfortunately, the end was a bit of a misdirection--and took the film in a much darker direction (particularly the very end). Still, like real life, things aren't always funny but deadly serious--so I am not so much criticizing but warning the viewer. Overall, some lovely performances in a movie whose main deficit is that it does not maintain a lot of the great momentum you saw during the road trip portion. Still, well worth seeing.

Maudlin and Poorly Directed

[itsforandrew · 2/10 · 28 April 2005]

This film was maudlin and overly sentimental. Paul Riser performed very well. He seemed even greater next to an over the top performance from Peter Falk. I blame the director for not having Falk pull back a bit. The plastic surgery on his face and Elizabeth Perkins were very distracting. She looked like she had a chemical peel the morning of shooting and said, "Oh, they can cover it with makeup." The last scene of the movie had to have been added at the last minute because it was shot in Hi Def, unlike the rest of the movie. Very obvious. Very disappointing. Schlock. I also thought the music was overbearing and let to the general feeling of manipulation lacking artistic talent from the director.

This was a lovely film

[urthlngs · 5 February 2005]

We just returned from a showing of "The Thing About My Folks" at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, and couldn't help pondering why this film does not have national distribution. Peter Falk's performance of the father was sheer genius. Paul Reiser's script was insightful and very tender. The cinematography was breathtaking:What could be more beautiful than autumn in upper New York State with the the changing of the leaves. (Especially as seen from the seat of a 1936 Ford). If this finally does get national distribution, I'm certain Peter Falk will be up for some kind of acting award. His depiction of the 'father who worked too hard' was brilliant. My husband and I laughed and cried. At a time when war rages abroad, it's such a relief to see a film with no car chases, explosions, and senseless gun battles. This was a lovely film. Good luck to the creators.

Charming at times

[donitava · 6/10 · 24 February 2005]

This film, written by Paul Reiser, was a warm film focused on relationships between generations. Falk's role was written specifically for him, and he shines as a Reiser's 77-year-old father, recently jilted by Reiser's mother. To ease Falk's angst, Reiser includes his father on a trip to the country which turns into a road trip for the two of them lasting several days. The road trip cements the adult father-son relationship and contains many long overdue shared experiences for the two. Questions are asked and answered. That being said, as much as I enjoyed the road trip, I did not enjoy the first third of the movie which provided caricature performances by siblings, children, and even Falk. These performances were not improved by a liberal sprinkling of flatulence (from Falk, supposedly). Thankfully, the farting did not continue through the remainder of the film. The ending was somewhat weak, and I left feeling unimpressed.

Too Wordy

[bob-rutzel · 6/10 · 26 February 2006]

Ben's (Reiser) father, Sam (Falk), drops by one night and says his wife (Dukakis) left a note and has left him.

Remember the TV show MAD ABOUT YOU when they babbled non-stop and excitedly over every little thing? Well, this movie started out that way and since Paul Reiser wrote and produced this, I figured I was in for a long night of non-stop babble. I was pleasantly surprised when the annoying babble stopped and the movie started thanks to the entrance of Peter Falk (who I am sure wouldn't put up with the babble).

However, this was still too wordy for me. There wasn't hardly a second of silence. Everyone had too much to say, way too much. See Reiser still is on TV time and is conscious of "dead air." OK, let's put it this way: This should have been a MADE FOR TV MOVIE. Yes, of course, there were moments of silence, but this is like a play, not a movie, and in a play one cannot have a character not talk for too long a time. Also, this was not really a funny movie unless you think loud farting is funny. Well okay, at times, sometimes it is.

Now that all the annoying things about the movie have been said, this is not a bad movie. You will learn why your father may not have been around when you were growing up; why your mother may have felt she was trapped in a marriage she wasn't sure she wanted; why your perception of things then and now were and are: wrong.

Peter Falk saves this movie and it's a shame we don't see more of him. He is terrific and the movie is worth it just to watch him.

Interesting

[fmwongmd · 6/10 · 16 February 2020]

A thorny relationship towards the end of life made interesting by a father_son journey of discovery. Peter Falk at his best,

Oi Vey Is Mere

[ambimom · 4/10 · 10 February 2006]

This should have been a movie about Sam and his wife, the glorious Peter Falk and equally glorious Olympia Dukakis. That would have been a movie worth seeing. Instead it's a Paul Reiser vehicle, with a little Falk thrown in. The wonderful Elizabeth Perkins is also in this movie, but you'd hardly know it. I presume Reiser is under the impression that he's a giant movie star who needs an appropriate vehicle. He's not. Even more galling is that Reiser took the trouble to hire some of the best women character actresses on the screen today and then shoved them all into his background. Dukakis does not show up until the last 15 minutes, but when she does, the screen glows. The story is about Falk and Dukakis really, but we're subjected to a pointless, silly, preposterous road trip in which Reiser gets to show how very cute, precious and oh-so-deep with psychological insight (wrong!) he can be. For instance, In a restaurant scene that I imagine Reiser had hoped was "Cassavetes-like" there's a laughably false confrontation between Reiser and Falk that is so patently ridiculous, I was embarrassed for Falk.

Travels with my father

[jotix100 · 8/10 · 16 September 2005]

"The Thing About my Folks" came in as a surprise. We had no idea about what to expect. The film directed by Raymond DeFelitta, and based on a screen play by one of its stars, Paul Reiser, proved to be a pleasant time at the movies. Although the film is predictable and we know what will be the outcome, this is a voyage of discovery where Ben gets to know his father, perhaps for the first time in his life, Ben sees his father for what he really is, and not the mythical figure he has in his mind.

The film seems to be a vehicle for its star, Peter Falk, and he runs away with the movie, as it was expected. Mr. Falk, one of the most endearing actors working in movies in this era and in past years, is an actor of such stature, he must be reckoned with. As Sam Kleinman, the distant father to Ben, he is a man that clearly is misunderstood, not only by Ben, but it appears by the whole family and his wife of forty-seven years.

When Muriel, the matriarch of the Kleinman clan, runs away, everyone goes into a panic because this woman, who has been the strong figure of the family, is vital to keep everyone together. Not knowing where she has gone, Sam shows up at Ben's house confused as he feels abandoned, suddenly, by the woman he married and has been faithful for all those years.

Ben, the youngest son, takes his father on a trip to look for a house he wants to buy so he can get his own family out of Manhattan into the country. The trip provides the excuse for Ben to bond with his father in ways he never knew about because the old man had always projected an aloof figure to his younger son. Along the way, father and son realize how much they love one another and how misunderstood the old man has been by his children. The love of Sam for Muriel spans the many years they have known one another; they seem inseparable.

Peter Falk is magnificent in the film. He makes an excellent Sam Kleinman, the man who suddenly realizes his life is about to change for the worst. Mr. Falk shines as the older man and there's never a false movement in his interpretation of the man whose whole world is crumbling under him.

Not being a Paul Reiser fan, we must confess that as Ben Kleinman, he is right. Ben and his father discover how much in common they both have and their love for Muriel, the mother that has sacrificed her life in order to keep the family together. Olympia Dukakis is only seen at the end of the film. She makes a good contribution as the fleeing mother. Elizabeth Perkins plays Rachel with great style..

The film has a beautiful look thanks to the cinematography of Dan Gillham, and the excellent musical score by Steven Argila. Ultimately, the film shows a great team effort between its director, Mr. DeFelitta and Paul Reiser who wrote it for the screen.

Although this film is clearly targeted for an older audience, it should please anyone.

Trees Always Win

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 18 August 2005]

Greetings again from the darkness. Despite my finding Paul Reiser ("Mad About You") somewhat annoying, I had pretty high hopes for this one. Reiser wrote and stars in this semi-autobiographical tale about the relationships in a family.

Peter Falk ("Columbo") is at his peak as the spunky dad who is irritated by the whole notion that possibly he wasn't a caring enough husband or father. The bulk of the movie is spent with Reiser attempting to get his dad (Falk) to understand the mom/wife's disappointment with her life in the marriage. Reiser does this by offering examples of his own disappointment and realizes that he himself may be overcompensating in his marriage so that he avoids the pitfalls he watched his parents take. If this sounds like a lot of Blah, Blah, Blah ... you are right. The only saving grace is the terrific performance by Falk and the fact that it is a father and son blabbering and not another mother/daughter crisis.

Very good casting keeps this one from flying too far off course. Olympia Dukakis adds a touch of class and even Elizabeth Perkins is almost likable as Reiser's wife. If you are like me and find Reiser's staccato-style yammerings to be nothing but a cheap imitation of Woody Allen, take heart that Falk's performance and the beautiful countryside of upstate New York will keep you from wasting two hours.

Crappy movie, a complete waste of time.. Nothing funny at all

[spamthishard · 1/10 · 12 February 2006]

It's a father - son relationship crap that goes nowhere and comes from nowhere.. Give me break..

They repeat a few times as a joke this : the disgusting old man farts.. is this the best you could do ? And you call this a comedy..

What, am I supposed to laugh when they go fishing and do nothing and say nothing ? You think that if some tits go near the old man's nose and he admits the tits are OK, that's funny ?

People, don't watch this crap ! Thir strongest joke is when the old man thinks that a girl with ripped pants is poor.. come on !

Someone just had to make a script around this old actor, with very low budget.. this movie made me feel like a bird being stuffed alive..

This movie is insulting because it assumes that we could watch anything and we're stupid enough to buy (or follow) any of their stupid meaningless hints, about life and relationships ..

This is the perfect example for the American style commercial, useless, stupid and insulting movie.

The Thing About My Folks needs to be seen

[nancyhubert1 · 10/10 · 14 February 2005]

I also viewed this film at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. It was an excellent film about adult family relationships. Paul Reiser wrote the film and included some similarities to his family. It was funny, warm, poignant, and moving, as well as entertaining. A film like this would do very well with the word of mouth reviews. I would definitely tell my friends and family to see this film. Let's only hope they'll have the chance. I would rate this film as one of the best movies I've seen in a year. It contains no violence, action scenes, murders, sex, so evidently distributors question whether or not to pick it up. Believe me, there are people out there who would love to go see a movie like this that has redeeming value, instead of the many typical big box office blockbusters we are usually given.

Pretty good film

[jacklbrad · 7/10 · 25 February 2020]

Loved the bar scene in The Garwood Rest. I grew up in Garwood am very familiar with that place. Peter Falk was outstanding as usual.

loved/hated

[jsykes-2 · 5/10 · 1 September 2005]

I enjoyed the movie. I saw relationships I have been in and I always enjoy Peter Falk and Paul Reiser. There was so much insight into many personality types. I learned from the movie. I kept thinking that I would really like for my sons to see it, BUT the drawback to it is that I was very offended by the language used over and over in the film. No buildings were blown up, no nude bodies were shown BUT in spite of all the positives, I would not recommend it to my sons or encourage my friends to see it. The words used have become so accepted in our society it is a real shame. Gentlemen wouldn't have used those words a few years ago and yet, today they were shouted over and over in a public place.

I enjoyed the story, I appreciate the feeling and the love that went into it. These are two of my favorite actors, BUT Sincerely, Melinda Sykes

Terrific Film you MUST see!

[marianshapiro · 6 February 2005]

What a TERRIFIC film... so poignant and totally REAL!!! It's a compelling story of the relationship between father and son, father and daughters, and husband and wife as experienced by this family across 3 generations. The genius of the story is that almost anyone can identify with each character, even though one is sometimes a jerk. It is full of humor. We found ourselves laughing out loud frequently and also shedding a few tears. Peter Falk and Paul Reiser did superb acting in this film, and, in my opinion, could successfully compete for Oscars!!! "The Thing About My Folks" shows so compassionately how husbands and wives, or parents and kids, can have deep and sometimes very painful misunderstandings. It gives us hope for our own families because we see how some of these misunderstandings get worked out. It shows us that a real family can seize an opportunity for communication and start healing those deep psychological wounds. This is a beautiful and amazing work of art. The packed audience in Santa Barbara loved it and left feeling good.

I saw some similarities to the Oscar-nominated film "Sideways" in that both films were at times quite funny but also had very poignant moments in how they portrayed men's emotions, which are often not expressed. But I definitely preferred "The Thing About My Folks!" The situations and emotions between fathers and kids and husbands and wives will touch millions more of us than the central situation in "Sideways" of cheating on one's partner the day before the wedding.

We saw "The Thing About My Folks" at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. I hope it gets a distributor so many more people can enjoy it as we did. I've already emailed all my friends to watch out for it.