The Thing About My Folks

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, January 07

"The Thing About My Folks" is a pleasant, if not at all surprising, little diversion. In a bit of male wish fulfillment, a man and his father find themselves on an unlikely roadtrip--and thus have the time to learn about one another and bond in ways previously foreign to them both. This seriocomic adventure stars Paul Reiser and Peter Falk as the duo, and the piece was obviously put together as an ode to familial love. What little boy doesn't yearn to spend more time with his dad? Apparently, even into adulthood, that's not something you ever get over.

After a fairly contrived and perfunctory beginning, our guys get on the road. Their escapades are pleasingly familiar which means that we're treated to a lot of cliche'd moments. As you might expect--we get ballgames, camping, fishing, drinking, smoking, carousing with women, and any other father/son interaction you might hope for. It's all very tame, though, but there is a warm humor to be had throughout. Naturally, they grow closer and there are some sweet (and completely expected) moments.

There is nothing particularly wrong with "The Thing About My Folks"--it's just so safe and unassuming. I suspect many will be attracted to it's comfortable feeling and experience a tugging sensation on their heartstrings. It has the feel of a good Cable TV movie, and never strives to be anything other than pleasant. In that it succeeds, it's pleasant. It is good to see Falk back in a leading role, and he makes the most of it. It's a very likable performance.

People who like the "warm and fuzzies" should like this film--but if it sounds like it's not your type of film, it probably isn't. KGHarris, 11/06.

I just viewed this movie last night with my husband and we thought it was THE BEST! I feel it deals with REAL families and emotions, right down to the "farts". I didn't realize Paul Reiser was such a talented writer. He turned out a movie that didn't once make me feel that it was contrived or stilted. It was like being with the family---a family that cares and shows anger and fear and frustration and LOVE. And it shows us that we CAN grow and change AND still love and support each other.

It was one of the best 98 minutes we've had together right up to and including the tears we shared at the end. Right on, Paul Reiser! Don't let anyone convince you otherwise, this is THE REAL DEAL!!