I refuse to say something like "in the midst of tragedy one needs to laugh" or anything like that. It would diminish the sorrow, the unbelievable devastation that Sonoma County has experienced.
But last night Steve and I needed to watch something, and this is on Netflix right now and it is very funny, very worth watching. Dustin Hoffman, Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Emma Thompson and several other wonderful actors bring us this very clear picture of an incredibly dysfunctional family, one we have seen over and over but not quite like this. To say that "The Meyerowitz Stories" is quirky is to call POTUS stupid or to call Bill Maher slightly opinionated. This is like a Woody Allen film on steroids, dialogue-wise. But it is very fun to watch and we highly recommend it.
Three adult children of a totally self-absorbed artist father try to make sense of their father at this random point in his old age. He doesn't listen to anything they say, he only talks about his greatness and how he has been overlooked in the art world and then, wait! There's a brain trauma that threatens the old man's life! Given what a total dick he has been to his kids, it's not quite clear if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
There are many true, honest and uncomfortable moments in this movie, and I loved every character even when I didn't like them. It has heart but it isn't at all schmaltzy. It might bring a tear or two but you don't feel manipulated when those tears arrive, you almost identify with their origin. Sadler and Stiller are great but pay attention to the sister Jean, she is key to so much but in a quiet, dead-pan way. Dustin Hoffman is off the chart as an egotistical father, in a way that only he can be. I can't think of anyone better suited to this role than Hoffman.
Despite the fire, despite the feeling of inadequacy and vulnerability and impotence in the face of this fire, this movie took us out of our angst for 90 minutes. Let it do that for you as well.
Enjoy!
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