SYNOPSIS: Academy Award®-nominated writer/director Noah Baumbach ("The Squid and the Whale,” “Kicking and Screaming,") brings to life a sharply observed portrait of a family in distress. His latest project is an unflinchingly honest story about coming to terms with one’s family and oneself, a journey that is both funny and heartbreaking. The film stars Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Jack Black.

REVIEW: I consider myself a fan of movies more than a movie critic. I love movies. They are one of the best and safest forms of escape that I know of. I consider myself to be what I like to call an “Average Joe” moviegoer. My reviews are mostly directed towards the “Average Joe” or “Average Jane” moviegoers. I really enjoy the big mainstream productions and I have a new affinity for indie films as well. It takes a lot for me not to like a movie. Well, having said all that, my fellow moviegoers, you can without a doubt skip this one. This was one of the emptiest movies I’ve seen this year. Again, this is the “Average Joe” moviegoer speaking and I really don’t see the average moviegoers enjoying this movie at all. Now on the other hand, if you are a cinematic guru who can appreciate the finer art in its purest form, you might actually like it. As for me, I left the theater in about the same condition, if not worse, than as I came in. I gained very little by watching this movie.

Don’t get me wrong, the movie is not a complete disaster. The randomness of these oddball characters and situations does provide some funny moments and some good ol’ fashioned family drama which helps make the movie bearable. The dialogue is witty and fitting to go along with the superb acting. The problem lies in the story or lack of one. You have a wonderfully cast picture with the likes of Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Jack Black giving you quality performances but with a story that takes you nowhere and ends abruptly. You can get about as much family drama by watching an average households’ home videos, or at least some soap opera on TV. This is not worth the price of admission and even the price of a movie rental is questionable. Let’s compare it to another recent and popular independent family drama/comedy, Little Miss Sunshine. The family as well as the individual characters are just as dysfunctional and everyday, but in Little Miss Sunshine there was a meaningful goal or purpose and the drama/comedy comes about as they journey to reach that goal. In Margot, there is no meaningful goal or purpose other than the turmoil between these family and non-family relationships. Give me something to bite on and chew.

Well at least there are some nice sized crumbs that can be scraped up. Nicole Kidman does an excellent job playing Margot, the ever critical control freak sister and mother. She is a neurotic, indecisive, attention addict. I will give credit to Director Noah Baumbach for successfully capturing the essence of everyday people in everyday scenarios but please give me a plot. I can summarize how I feel about this movie using one of Margot’s lines referring to Malcolm (Jack Black) : “He's not ugly. He's completely unattractive.”
 

Review By Cine Marcos 
cinemarcos@smartcine.com

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