 |
| STAR RATINGS EXPLAINED |
| Unmissable |
|
| Excellent |
|
| Good |
|
| Poor |
|
| Tragic |
|
|
| FILM DETAILS | Certificate
15 | | Cast
Leighton Meester
Hugh Laurie
Catherine Keener. | | Directors
Julian Farino. | | Screenwriters
Ian Helfer
Jay Reiss. | | Running Time
90 minutes |
|
|
|
The Oranges
Better than Keith Lemon
Plot
Two New Jersey families, the Wallings (Hugh Laurie and Catherine Keener) and the Ostroffs (Oliver Platt and Allison Janney), are best friends and neighbours. But when Nina Ostroff (Meester) returns home after a five-year gap, their lives are suddenly thrown into turmoil.
Review
Two very close families are simultaneously glued together and cleaved apart when the father of one (Hugh Laurie) and daughter of the other (Leighton Meester) begin a relationship. Ian Helfer and Jay Reiss’ script avoids going in all of the obvious directions, making this affair distasteful but deeper than a fling. However, in places it feels unfinished, particularly in any part involving the humiliated wife (Catherine Keener), whose vague actions seem pieced together at the last minute. A cast to kill for elevates even the weaker scenes, filling out a story that is entertaining but lacking any singular memorable moment.
Verdict
The storyline delicately tiptoes along the line of good taste and is embroidered by a first-rate cast. Still, a knockout moment is missing.
Reviewed by Olly Richards
Write Your Review
To write your review please login or register.
|
|
|
|
