PEEP WORLD (2011)

Directed By: Barry W. Balustein
Written By: Peter Himmelstein
Cinematography By: Tobias Datum
Editor: Evan Schiff

Cast: Ben Schwartz, Sarah Silverman, Ron Rifkin, Kate Mara, Lesley Ann Warren, Michael C. Hall, Judy Greer, Rainn Wilson, Tarjai P. Henson, Stephen Tobolowsky, Alicia Witt, Guillermo Diaz, Octavia Spencer



This film revolves around a family whose youngest member has written a thinly disguised book about his family and it's members. IT is their father's birthday and the forst time they will allsee each other in a long time. They each have their dilemas that they are hoping the dinner will help resolve.

For a film that seemed like it was going to be a dark comedy about a dysfunctional family, it was rather tame. It plays like a Epsiode of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT without the comedy and not as quirky.

While watching this film i wondered how the director a noted comedy writer got such a good cast for something that was at best mildly amusing. The cast would have been better off improvising half the scens at least there would have been something of note in the film. It's sad as there talents all seem wasted for the most part.

At least the film is short and is over before you know it. it's like a short story made for the screen that runs out of narrative and just makes it up as it goes along. The characters at least most of them are so subdued that i admire they go more for trying to make the characters dramatic. it is the way to make them realistic i guess. Though iot then throws the film off watching dramatic characters in comedic situations.

Sarah Silverman seems to be the only person who shines with the material she is given, But she plays the usual Sarah Silverman type character self centered, angry, bitchy and witty. So it doesn't seem much of a stretch. Kate mara needs a better agent i am tired of seeing her in these slight roles where she really has nothing to do but bear witness to the actions in most scenes then only getting one line. She is beautiful and talented and way past paying her dues at this point she should be getting better roles. Ron Rifkin plays the head of the fasmily and as usual he is a S.O.B. At least when he finally appears towards the end of the film we can see why all the characters around him have such great problems. Which again reminded me that this seemed much more cathartic a story that would be better served in book form then on the screen where it just feels thin.

It has a kind of heart warming towards the end that felt false. i really wish the film had been better i really wanted to like it. i liked the cast.

The film is not a total disaster but it feels more akin to trying to cathc the spirit of films of the seventies or the indie 90's but it's not as deep as either of those. though it tries to appear to be. Instead it comes off as a bad imitation of those films.

GRADE: D