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The Family Fang (film)

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The Family Fang
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJason Bateman
Screenplay byDavid Lindsay-Abaire
Based onThe Family Fang
by Kevin Wilson
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyKen Seng
Edited byRobert Frazen
Music byCarter Burwell
Production
companies
Distributed byStarz Digital
Release dates
  • September 14, 2015 (2015-09-14) (TIFF)
  • April 29, 2016 (2016-04-29) (United States)
Running time
105 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$585,165[2][3]

The Family Fang is a 2015 American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Bateman and written by David Lindsay-Abaire, based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Kevin Wilson. The film stars Bateman, Nicole Kidman, and Christopher Walken. The film was released on April 29, 2016, by Starz Digital.

Plot

The family Fang enters a bank, Baxter robs a teller of her lollipops, shoots and Caleb rushes him as a security guard. Their mother Camille pretends to be shot, and Annie grieves over her body. They get up and leave, Caleb giving a speech about cherishing life and bows.

The adult Annie, a failing actress, is on a film set where the director has asked her to go topless in a scene. Initially refusing, she later returns to the set without her top. A crew member snaps her photo, selling it to a tabloid.

The adult Baxter sees the photos in a convenience store. After having published two novels, he accepts a job writing about potato guns. Drinking with his subjects, Baxter allows them to perform the William Tell on him, resulting in his hospitalization. The Fangs reunite over the injury.

Caleb tries to enlist Annie and Baxter, whom he calls "A and B", into a new piece of performance art but she vehemently declines. Giving fake coupons for free chicken sandwiches at a food court, Baxter is to film the ensuing chaos and angered customers when the cashier declines to honor them. To Caleb's dismay, she gives free sandwiches to all who ask, making him irate. His kids feel their parents have lost any artistic merit they once had.

During their reunion, Annie watches old tapes of the family's performance art, and a documentary about her parents. It captures Caleb's sophomoric and didactic performance pieces, like shooting Hobart with a crossbow. Annie recalls another piece featuring her and Baxter busking in Central Park with songs like "KAP (Kill All Parents)". Camille and Caleb heckle them, horrifying onlookers. Later, the family laughs about it.

Annie finds a hidden panel in her old wardrobe, with several odd postcard sized paintings. As the siblings comment on how good they are, Camille walks in and panically tries to collect and hide them. Camille explains Caleb doesn't know about her drawing again as he wouldn't approve.

After the chicken sandwich prank failed. Caleb and Camille go away to the Berkshires for a few days. After a short while, police report their disappearance as their car was found with blood on the dashboard. Annie tells them the blood is fake and the disappearance is just one of Caleb's pieces. Baxter isn't so sure, simply believing they won't see them again. Annie becomes obsessed with finding them.

Annie recalls her senior year high school Romeo and Juliet performance where Romeo could not make it. Baxter was his understudy, but he balks at having to kiss his sister onstage. He reluctantly agrees, but when the audience laughs at his attempts to avoid kissing Annie, she is humiliated.

When Baxter finally gives Annie a full kiss onstage, drama teacher Miss Delano gets fired. She later tells them it was worth it to be a part of one of Caleb and Camille's more elaborate pieces. The kids are horrified, and refuse to continue doing performances with their parents. In the documentary, Caleb confesses that until realizing he could use his children as living art, he was uninterested in being a father.

Having a yard sale at their parents', they find a CD by the Vengeful Virgins with a cover of "KAP", known only to the Fangs. Tracking down the teenage twins in the band, Annie interrogates them while Baxter searches the house. He finds video of Caleb smearing his own blood in his car. Miss Delano comes home, revealing she is the boys' mother. Caleb enters behind her, and he reluctantly takes them to Camille.

This final piece has been planned for years. Caleb and Miss Delano have acted as husband and wife, accidentally having the twins. Camille has been spending time in a small town as a widow for several months every year. Each establishing separate identities, they feel this piece is a fitting end to their career. Begging Annie and Baxter to help keep their secret, they bitterly agree.

Annie and Baxter are happier and better balanced after letting go of their parents.

Cast

Production

On October 27, 2011, it was announced that the film rights to the Kevin Wilson novel The Family Fang were bought by actress Nicole Kidman's Blossom Films company. Kidman and Per Saari would be reuniting with their Rabbit Hole co-producers at Olympus Films' Leslie Urdang and Dean Vanech.[4] On May 8, 2012, screenwriter David Lindsay-Abaire was set to adapt the film for Kidman.[5] On November 1, 2013, it was announced that actor Jason Bateman will direct and star alongside Kidman as her brother in the film, and QED International would finance the film.[6] On May 5, 2014, Christopher Walken was cast as Caleb Fang, the siblings' father.[7]

Filming

The filming for The Family Fang began on July 14, 2014, in New York City[8] and later that month in Suffern, New York.[9]

Reception

Early reviews from TIFF praised the film and Kidman's performance.[1][10]

The film received an 83% score on aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes with a consensus: "Layered performances from Nicole Kidman and director-star Jason Bateman add extra depth to The Family Fang's sharply observed look at domestic dysfunction."[11]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2015.[12] Shortly, after Starz Digital acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[13] The film was released on April 29, 2016, by Starz Digital.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b David Rooney (2015-09-14). "Jason Bateman's 'The Family Fang': TIFF Review". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  2. ^ "The Family Fang (2016)". Box Office Mojo. 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2016-09-13.
  3. ^ "The Family Fang (2016) Foreign Gross". Box Office Mojo. 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2016-09-13.
  4. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 27, 2011). "Nicole Kidman Acquires Kevin Wilson Novel 'The Family Fang' As Star Vehicle". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  5. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 8, 2012). "'Rabbit Hole's Nicole Kidman And David Lindsay-Abaire Re-Team On 'Family Fang'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  6. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 1, 2013). "Jason Bateman Set To Direct And Star With Nicole Kidman In 'The Family Fang'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  7. ^ McNary, Dave (May 5, 2014). "CANNES: Christopher Walken Joins Jason Bateman, Nicole Kidman in 'Family Fang'". variety.com. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  8. ^ Christine (July 17, 2014). "Nicole Kidman and Jason Bateman begin filming 'Family Fang' in NYC". onlocationvacations.com. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  9. ^ New 12 Westchester (July 25, 2014). "Jason Bateman films new movie project 'Family Fang' in Suffern". westchester.news12.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Justin Chang (2015-09-14). "'The Family Fang' Review: Jason Bateman and Nicole Kidman Play Artist Siblings". Variety. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  11. ^ "THE FAMILY FANG (2016)". Rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  12. ^ "The Family Fang". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  13. ^ Lang, Brent; Seetoodah, Ramin (October 8, 2015). "Starz Acquires Jason Bateman's 'The Family Fang' For Theatrical, Multi-Platform Release (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  14. ^ Gettell, Oliver (2016-04-08). "Family Fang trailer: Dysfunction is an art in Jason Bateman film". EW.com. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
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