The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
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A dysfunctional family of former child prodigies must navigate the return of their eccentric father and the complexities of their past successes.
The story
The Royal Tenenbaums follows the lives of three gifted siblings who experienced great success in their youth but face disappointment and failure in adulthood. Their eccentric father, Royal Tenenbaum, who abandoned them in their adolescence, returns after they have grown up. Claiming to have a terminal illness, Royal attempts to reconcile with his children and his estranged wife, Etheline. The story explores the dynamics of this dysfunctional family as they confront their pasts and the reality of their current lives in a world that has moved on from their former status as child prodigies.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Royal Tenenbaum, a disbarred lawyer and ex-convict, claims he has stomach cancer to win back the affections of his wife, Etheline, and their three children: the math genius Chas, the playwright Margot, and the former tennis prodigy Richie. As the family reunites in their family home, tensions rise. It is revealed that Royal's illness is a lie, and he is forced out of the house. Meanwhile, Margot's secret life and affair with Eli Cash, a local author, are exposed. After a series of personal crises, including Richie's suicide attempt and a car accident involving Eli, the family members find a sense of resolution. Etheline marries the kind accountant Henry Sherman, and the children find new paths: Margot releases a new play, Richie begins teaching tennis, and Chas becomes less overprotective of his sons. The film ends with Royal's death, and the family attends his funeral, where his final message is a tribute to his role in their lives.
- First release year
- 2001
- Runtime (minutes)
- 110
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Wes Anderson
- Writers
- Wes Anderson · writer; Owen Wilson · writer
- Cast and characters
- Danny Glover · Henry Sherman; Gene Hackman · Royal Tenenbaum; Anjelica Huston · Etheline Tenenbaum; Bill Murray · Raleigh St. Clair; Gwyneth Paltrow · Margot Tenenbaum; Ben Stiller · Chas Tenenbaum; Luke Wilson · Richie Tenenbaum; Owen Wilson · Eli Cash
- Genres
- comedy-drama
- Themes
- dysfunctional family; lost greatness; redemption; nostalgia
- Tone and mood
- absurdist; ironic; whimsical
- Premise and plot tags
- family drama; comedy; prodigies
- Source material / true-story basis
- Ostensibly based on a nonexistent novel
- Content notes
- self-harm
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and was considered a success for the director.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 76 · scale: 100 · review count: 34
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe · Best Actor - Musical or Comedy · win; Academy Award · Best Original Screenplay · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's soundtrack was released in two albums.; The house used for the Tenenbaum residence was in Harlem.; The film was included in BBC's 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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