Everybody’s Fine – DVD Review

The Flick:

Robert De Niro is a solid actor that has consistently challenged himself in the roles he chooses. He has tackled comedy, drama, suspense, and just about every other genre associated with the silver screen. So when I heard that he was staring in the drama Everybody’s Fine it didn’t surprise me much, but after seeing the flick I was floored by his subtle, pitch perfect performance as Frank Goode, the lonely introverted father in Everybody’s Fine.

The Hollywood machine spits out a ridiculous number of tearjerker dramas every year, but few of these hold my attention. Everybody’s Fine would have been on the list of those had it not been for De Niro’s stellar performance. In general the film was pretty standard drama fare without De Niro. Frank Goode (De Niro) lives a solitary existence after the death of his wife, so when his children all ditch a family get together he decides to pay each of his four children a surprise visit. Of course, things don’t go as he planned and much drama and melancholy ensues.

With such an amazing cast including; Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, and Sam Rockwell, De Niro is the glue that holds it all together. While all of the actors did a fine job, the script didn’t offer much in terms of character development. There isn’t enough time spent getting to know the characters and the film suffers because if it. I’m not usually a fan of overly long movies, but this picture would have benefitted from a slightly longer runtime. Director Kirk jones did a fine job with the tools he was given. Directing a remake, even a remake of an Italian movie has got to be tough, because no matter how great a job you do there will always be those who favor the original.

Everybody’s Fine is a warm, skillfully executed movie that showcases the wondrous artistry of Robert De Niro. My only complaint is that I would have enjoyed a little more time with the supporting cast. Not my favorite film of the year, but a killer film none-the-less.

The DVD:

Audio/Visual

I found the audio to be pretty standard. There wasn’t anything exceptional about it, but it served its purpose. The video transfer is pretty subdued as well, boasting warm colors that are never quite as vibrant as it seems they should be.

The Making of Paul McCartney’s “(I Want To) Come Home:” The superstar musician talks about his process and explores the creative process of writing for a film.

Deleted & Extended Scenes: I really enjoyed these deleted scenes, especially the ones that showed Frank interacting with other characters he met during his trip. Definitely worth watching.

The Flick: Rating:

The DVD: Rating: