Reuniting the Rubins (2011)

Best movie ever!

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

The fascinating thing about "Reuniting the Rubins" is that it goes through a myriad of unexpected twists and turns before arriving at the ending we expect. Even more fascinating is the fact that the happy ending comes after a sequence of events that run the gamut from absurd to serious, both of which are the result of circumstances many would call exasperating, unwarranted, and even unpleasant. I'm not saying this to suggest that the film is confused or meandering; it's simply unique in its approach to sentiment. After what we watch, which is at times mentally and emotionally exhausting, the ending comes at us like a cool, refreshing drink at the end of brisk jog. Who gives a hang how likely or unlikely it happens to be? Endings like the one in "Reuniting the Rubins" are half the reason we go to the movies in the first place.It is, in short, a bittersweet comedy with a heartwarming finale. It tells the story of a family reunion – or, more accurately, the immense frustration and agony that goes into making the reunion possible. At the film's heart is Lenny Rubins (Timothy Spall), a burnt-out lawyer whose dream of retirement is to take a relaxing cruise. His mother, known only as Gran (Honor Blackman), has a weakening heart and would like nothing more than for her family to get back together for the Jewish celebration of Pesach. Lenny is repeatedly forced into delaying his cruise, sometimes out of what appears to be an emergency situation, at other times out of guilt. As much as he wants to appease his mother, he doesn't believe a reunion of any kind, let alone for a holiday, is possible.Here enters his four grown children, who are so diametrically opposite from each other that it's a wonder they haven't killed anyone. His son, Clarity (Asier Newman), has become a Buddhist monk. His other son, Yona (Hugh O'Conor), has given up his career as a lawyer to become a devout rabbi, much to Lenny's chagrin. His third son, Danny (James Callis), is an uptight, controlling, perpetually angry, fast-paced businessman – a staunch, greedy capitalist tycoon who's pitching a new holographic computer screen to foreign investors. His daughter, Andie (Rhona Mitra), is a militant eco-warrior fighting to stop slave mining in Africa, the kind that yields the raw materials needed for products like cell phones, computers, and holographic projectors. She and Danny are the most argumentative of the four, and are constantly at each other's throats.Gran realizes that her grandchildren are a handful, but she insists on going through with the reunion, and even sees to it that their childhood home is restored for the occasion. The plot synopsis on the film's official website refers to her actions as emotional blackmail, which I believe is a cruel misreading of her character. As a resident of a retirement home – and, more compellingly, as a holocaust survivor – she has seen her fair share of suffering and death. All she wants is to be surrounded by the people she loves, preferably while she's still alive. This is not emotional blackmail. It's a request that, quite frankly, would benefit not only her but also her family. Lenny initially doesn't see things the same way she does, but that doesn't make him a bad father. It just means that he has some maturing to do.The film occasionally goes too far with its depictions of Lenny's children, who for the most part are reduced to caricatureish simplifications, as if the intention was to parody them. Rather than try for something more compelling, we initially see them at their worst and/or most ridiculous. There's Yona with his constant quoting from the Torah, Clarity with his exaggerated new age proverbs, Danny with his cold professionalism, and Andie with her confrontational liberal agenda. As the film progresses, however, a few of the layers are finally peeled back. The single best scene takes place between Danny and his young son, Jake (Theo Stevenson). Danny, at last beginning to realize he doesn't spend enough time with his son, tries to buy his affections by giving him a wrapped digital watch. Jake solemnly asks how much his father makes per hour. "Around 300," Danny replies. Jake then empties the contents of his piggy bank on his bed and does some quick mental math. "Can you give me eight minutes?" he asks.And then there's the ending – which, strangely enough, is what I started this review with. Without giving anything away, I will say that it involves two emotional contrivances that are polar opposites. In this case, this isn't a criticism so much as it is a simple observation. As much as some of us might complain about lack of plausibility or psychological manipulation in the movies, the truth is that they make endings like this because we enjoy them. Filmmakers understand that they appeal to our need for resolution, hope, and yes, even happiness. And besides, who's to say life doesn't work this way? That's a pretty broad generalization, if you ask me. If there's anything to take away from "Reuniting the Rubins," it's that sometimes, it does work out.-- Chris Pandolfi (www.atatheaternearyou.net)

I took my family to watch this movie and all of us left the cinema feeling positively uplifted and that much closer as a family unit. I have to say that this is not the type of movie I would usually go to watch so I was pleasantly surprised by this thoroughly enjoyable movie. It is a great performance all round from the whole crew, the film was very well casted and has some fantastic actors, the soundtrack is really good and I am looking forward to watching Yoav Factor's next film. All in all the movie promotes fantastic family moral values in a highly entertaining and humorous way. I thoroughly recommend this film to all audiences, especially families and will most likely watch it a number of times myself.

A very funny film from Yoav Factor - though roughly enjoyable all round family entertainment, that anyone with siblings and ageing parents can identify with. Honour Blackman's portrayal of an elderly Jewish mother is excellent. A genuinely heart warming film with lots of funny moments and a touching storyline. Whilst Timothy Spall, puts in an excellent performance, Rhona is excellent as the daughter and I felt that the role of the Rabbi was a hysterically funny. I particularly liked the fact Yoav did not work with a predominantly Jewish Cast for this film. Overall this was a great first attempt by an aspiring new director and well worth a viewing if you understand the dynamics and you are from a large family.

A really good first feature from Yoav Factor. For my money, Tim Spall and Honor Blackman steal the show. I didn't think a comic drama about a Jewish mother and son would float my boat - but this is far from so simplistic. it's about family, warts and all, with a liberal sprinkling of love and affection. It may not set the movie world alight - no SFX, no 3D, no explosions or sell-on games opportunities... but it is well worth a look. Someone on here said 'A British Woody Allen'... Woody Allen in the days of Hannah and Her Sisters, Manhattan, Annie Hall....now there's something to aspire to!!