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KEEPING
UP WITH THE STEINS |
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"Dancing To Neil
Diamond" |
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Directed by Scott
Marshall - Written by
Mark Zakarin
Starring Jeremy Piven,
Jami Gertz, Daryl Sabara,
Garry Marshall, Doris
Roberts
Distributed by Miramax -
2006 - 99mins - Rated
PG13 |
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Something's not quite kosher. |
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"Keeping Up with the
Steins" is an "AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW" film...It's the type of film
critics love to hate and, more importantly, hate to admit they
actually enjoyed. Centering on the life of Benjamin Fiedler (Daryl
Sabara of the "Spy Kids" films), "Keeping Up with the Steins" is one
of those gentle, easygoing, feel-good comedies that do average
box-office only to later find life on DVD. Benjamin is the son of Adam
(Jeremy Piven), a high-powered entertainment agent, and Joanne (Jami
Gertz), his loving and more grounded wife.
The plot of "Keeping Up with the Steins" is incredibly basic and, dare
I say, not that essential to the film itself. Adam was once in the
same agency as Arnie Stein (Larry Miller), whose son has his
Bar-Mitzvah a couple weeks prior to Benjamin's. To call this
Bar-Mitzvah party excessive would be an understatement, though one
can't help but chuckle at the concept of a "Titanic" themed
Bar-Mitzvah party knowing how, in fact, the whole "Titanic" deal
actually ended up.
But, I digress.
Adam becomes determined to outdo the "Stein" Bar-Mitzvah, complete
with a rented out Dodger Stadium, celebrity appearances, a national
anthem from Neil Diamond and, well, you get the point.
Are you getting the creeps yet? Admit it. You're thinking to yourself
"This sounds awful." You're thinking "God, not another one of those
feel-good teen comedies." I can feel you detaching from this review
all the way over here in Indiana.
Worry not, "Keeping Up with the Steins" takes an old idea and brings
it to life thanks to marvelous performances across the board,
intelligent decisions by director Scott Marshall (Garry's son), and a
genuinely strong chemistry between all the players involved.
"Keeping Up with the Steins" won't, in fact, be winning any
film-making awards. Where this film succeeds is the same exact place
that many of Steve Martin's recent films have failed..."Keeping Up
with the Steins" spends more time focusing on the relationships
between the characters, the natural feelings, the humor that develops
between them, and largely avoids excessive histrionics, inappropriate
special effects, cheap humor and poking fun at its characters.
In many ways, "Keeping Up with the Steins" reminds me of three films I
absolutely enjoyed. The first, "Angus," starred Charlie Talbert, Kathy
Bates and George C. Scott in one of the last decade's smartest and
most underappreciated teen films about growing up, chasing dreams and
being yourself. The second, "Keeping the Faith," is my most watched
film outside those two years in the cast of "Rocky Horror Picture
Show." "Keeping the Faith," smartly directed by Edward Norton,
perfectly blended romance and religion in an easygoing, intelligent
romantic comedy. The final film which came to mind during "Keeping Up
with the Steins" is, oddly enough, "The Ringer," a recent film
starring Johnny Knoxville. "The Ringer" was a surprisingly intelligent
and human comedy that trusted the inherent comic nature of its
situations enough that it avoided turning any of the characters into a
caricature. The end result was a heartwarming, often hilarious film
that gave Knoxville an unexpected hit this past year.
"Keeping Up with the Steins" doesn't force its characters into comic
situations so much as it finds the comic situations in their everyday
lives. While Marshall does, at times, have difficulty balancing the
film's light comedy with those occasional "authentic" moments that
seem mandatory in this type of film, generally "Keeping Up with the
Steins" feels fresh even when you know it's not.
Sabara, who also provides some narration in the film, offers a steady,
subdued performance as Benjamin. Too often, this benchmark of a Jewish
male's life is played for laughs. The laughs are obvious and easy, but
Marshall finds them more in Benjamin's everyday situations. Sabara,
meanwhile, provides the film with its needed connection to the
audience. It's nearly impossible to watch "Keeping Up with the Steins"
and not, by the end of the film, truly care about young Benjamin.
Likewise, Piven again proves himself one of today's more underrated
comic actors. Here, Piven is asked to be a masterialistic agent,
loving father, loyal husband, protective son and, finally, wounded
child. These scenes are both heartwarming and funny, not because Piven
plays them for laughs but because Piven's character is so convincing
throughout.
As his wife, Jami Gertz offers her best performance in years. This
"relationship" between Adam and Joanne works because Piven and Gertz's
chemistry shows the dynamic of "partnership" in action.
As there always are in films such as this one, there are side stories.
Some work incredibly well, while others feel pointless and incomplete.
On the "incredibly well" side, we have young Benjamin deciding to
invite his grandfather (played by Garry Marshall), who abandoned Adam
and his mother (played by the wondrous Doris Roberts) over twenty
years ago and living on an Native American reservation with the young,
attractive Sacred Feather (a scene-stealing Daryl Hannah). I'd almost
forgotten how marvelous an actor Garry Marshall can be...his scenes
with young Benjamin are tender, sweet and heartfelt. His scenes with
the young Sacred Feather, which could have easily been a caricature,
instead come off sincerely, humorously and, yet again, respectfully.
On the flip side, a side scene of the family being filmed for a
Bar-Mitzvah movie feels awkward, unfinished and unnecessary. Several
times, it appeared that we were headed towards a Grandma/Grandpa
reunion while Sacred Feather hits it off with a younger film-maker.
Then, suddenly, the film crew disappeared until the end of the film
and the film re-focused on a more sincere note.
Additionally, while the scenes with the Steins were initially funny,
they became tiresome by the film's end. With a slight and refreshing
variation, however, director Marshall makes an interesting choice in
developing the relationship between the two teen boys, Stein and
Fiedler. The end result is that "Keeping Up with the Steins" truly
does focus on young Benjamin's transition to manhood and doesn't
compromise this vision for the sake of a few laughs.
Because "Keeping Up with the Steins" is a teen comedy, a family film
and, ultimately, a feel-good film it is inevitable that all's well
that ends well by the film's end. Yet, because Marshall chose the
intelligent route of trusting his characters and finding comedy in
their relationships, the "happy" ending doesn't feel manufactured or
forced. Instead, it feels like young Benjamin is, truly, transitioning
himself to manhood much thanks to parents who truly, truly love him, a
grandfather who wants to make up for lost time, friends who care as
only friends can care, and because Benjamin is a good kid making
healthy choices with positive results.
Sometimes, when I go to a film I don't want to be blown away. I don't
want the razzle dazzle. I don't want to laugh hysterically, cry
uncontrollably or have to think so hard my head hurts. Sometimes, I
just want to sit there and be so engrossed in the characters that I
laugh, I cry, I feel good and, perhaps most importantly, I come home
feeling better about life.
"Keeping Up with the Steins?" It's a feel good film.
Sometimes, that's enough. |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
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